Although conditions were not nearly as bad as they were just a day earlier, a small grass fire behind a home in downtown Rocklin gave nearby residents cause for concern.

The call came in to the Rocklin Fire Department at 12:21 p.m. with 10 firefighters in three units arriving less than two minutes later, said Battalion Chief Jim Summers with the Rocklin Fire Department.

The cause of the fire, which was fueled by dried weeds and debris behind a house at 5155 2nd Street, is still under investigation, Summers said.

“Every fire is suspicious until we know the cause,” Summers said, adding that if the fire had occurred one day earlier, “We would have a much different story.”

High winds and dry air were responsible for a number of wild fires in Northern California earlier in the week and prompted the Rocklin Fire Department to have extra staff on duty.

“We’re always prepared for fire season,” Summers said. “But we’re seeing conditions like we’re used to in August and September.”

Andrew Witek was in his home next door when he heard the crackling of the fire.

“I ran out and grabbed the hose and started spraying. It helped prevent the fire from going to the house,” he said.

Witek’s brother, Chris Andre was also alerted by the sound the fire made.

“It sounded almost like fire crackers out here except it was the popping from the grass,” he said.

“I heard my brother yell back for me and I came out and saw it and I grabbed the phone and called the police and he grabbed a hose. Then when I was off the phone, I grabbed a hose,” Andre said.

Andre is confident that the dousing he and his brother gave the fire before fire fighters arrived kept it from spreading to the home.

All witnesses agreed that the Rocklin Fire Department’s response was very fast.

The home was occupied by Josh Steckbar, his grandmother and his dog at the time the fire erupted.

The fire came on so fast that residents of the home had little time to evacuate.

“I grabbed my dog and ran inside and grabbed grandma out,” Steckbar said.

Although Steckbar said he was not scared for his safety, he admits “It got my heart pumping. I had to move fast. I just had to react.”

Firefighters admonished Steckbar about the hazard the tall dry grass and debris presented.

“The grass back there was kind of tall,” he said, adding if it had happened the day before “It would have taken the whole house. It would have jumped everywhere.”

At the nearby Crossroads Community Church, the few children present were able to watch the action safely from a second floor balcony.

Nine year-old Shae Yanez was “pretty scared because we were worried it would burn our church down.”

“When the firemen got here, we started to cheer,” she said.

Pre-school director for the church, Alicia Hageman had complete confidence in the Rocklin Fire Department.

“I wasn’t worried because I knew the Rocklin Fire Department would get it out right away,” she said, adding, “The kids over there with the hoses did a good job, too.”