Crappy golfer causes fire

Nevada - A Wildcreek golfer who hit a bad shot this evening started a brush fire that consumed 15-20 acres northeast of the golf course, fire officials said.

The golfer had knocked his ball into the grass beyond the course off the 3500 block of Sullivan Lane. When he tried to play back to the fairway, his club struck something that created a spark that started the fire.

“He was totally honest about it,” Reno Battalion Chief Curtis Johnson said, adding he didn’t know if the golfer turned in the alarm. Reno and Sparks fire engines with 45-50 people swarmed the area and were mopping up about 8:30 p.m. A 12-person crew from the Sierra Front Forest Service was to be at the fire site until at least midnight.

“We had a lot here,” Johnson said. “We use a task force response now, three brush engines and three structure enginess and a water tender. We’ve changed tactics this year because of the dangerous conditions.”

No structures were threatened but engines were available for protection, he said. The fire moved northeast with more than of it in cheatgrass. The golf course is owned by the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. The fire did not damage any of the holes or practice areas on the course.