Grass fire likely sparked by mower chars as many as 20 Dallas area homes

A grass fire apparently sparked by a lawnmower swept about 300 yards across a tinder-dry open field to a suburban Dallas subdivision Monday, burning through wooden fences and torching as many as 20 homes, officials said.

A total of 26 structures — homes and others — were damaged and nine were a total loss, CBS Dallas reported.

The blaze in Balch Springs was the latest in drought-stricken North Texas, which has been vulnerable to explosive wildfires for at least two weeks.