https://enewspaper.latimes.com/desktop/l...0c-236bf740270e

Simply pounding a stake in the ground started one o California's biggest wildfires. Dry grass is almost perfect tinder for ignition.

Some years ago I was directing a project restoring some historic masonry structures on Santa Cruz Island. We were whacking at limestone rocks in tall dry grass, striking sparks regularly from the silica rich rock. We kept fire fighting gear handy and fortunately never started any fires. Other construction projects were not always so lucky