A 20-acre swathe of Claireville Conservation Area in Brampton was scorched by a wildfire Sunday (April 7) that started when an unidentified family decided to build an impromptu campfire, according to fire officials.

“A family had gathered a bunch of rocks, and they were having a fire,” said Brampton Fire and Emergency Services Acting Platoon Chief Peter Reid. “Sparks jumped 80 feet from where they were sitting… they tried to put it out themselves…”

He said it was “very foolish” to have a fire on such a windy day, not to mention, it’s illegal in that area.

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“And this is grass fire season,” he said.

He said people are surprised by that, because spring typically brings wet weather but, “there’s dead, dry grass everywhere.”

A cyclist stayed on scene to describe what had happened, but the family did not, Reid said.

The flames from the fire were three to four feet high, he said, and spreading quickly in every direction.

It posed a huge challenge for fire crews who had to get their trucks as close as possible to the area, then hauled hose into the area.

One truck got stuck.