A model rocket sparked a brush fire Friday afternoon behind a North Bay school, not far from a playground where a Halloween carnival was in full swing.
The rocket was launched behind Lagunitas School in San Geronimo started a 5-acre wildfire, the Marin County Fire Department said.
The fire was reported around 2 p.m. and grew to five acres before it was 80 percent contained by about 4 p.m., Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber said. Several homes near the school located at 1 Lagunitas School Road were threatened.
It's not clear where the rocket came from, but school officials say it wasn’t anyone on campus.
The fire spread from east to west along a narrow path that stretched a half-mile from the school toward Nicasio Valley Road and the San Geronimo Golf Course, Weber said.
Seventy firefighters responded, including 34 inmates overseen by Cal Fire. One firefighter suffered a minor knee injury, Weber said.
Three fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter from Cal Fire also responded as well as firefighters from Novato, Ross Valley and the Marin County Open Space District.
Local
Weber said fire personnel will be on the scene overnight to prevent flare-ups.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
