Fire officials are thanking weed abatement for helping manage a vegetation fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon in Atascadero off Highway 41.
More than 11 acres were burned at Carmelita and Casanova Road after a car lost control, drove off the roadway onto a pile of rocks and caught fire.
Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services Chief Casey Bryson said the amount of weed abatement around residential properties and along the trail head leading up to the Three Bridges area significantly reduced the potential for fire damage.
"If the weeds were not cutback and proper weed abatement measures had not taken place, this fire would have burned at a minimum four of the homes in the surrounding area if not more," said Chief Bryson.
Atascadero firefighters, Cal Fire and SLO County Fire worked together to extinguish the fire.
Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services is encouraging property owners to continue to practice of weed abatement to reduce fire risk.
For more information on wildfire preparedness, you can visit Atascadero.org/Fire.
