Multiple grass fires flared across the island over the weekend, causing significant damage. The flames at Mount Santa Rosa nearly reached a resident’s home and farm on Saturday. And we're not out of the clear just yet - officials continue to warn of critical fire weather conditions. 

Charred vegetation spreads as far as the eye can see throughout the Yigo area after a grass fire on Saturday. It's not the only incident as grass fires flared over the weekend, from north to south.

"It’s pretty extensive," explained Yigo mayor Pedro Blas. "The fire actually started here. So imagine since we’re on Santa Rosa, so when the wind blew and it caught over this way and it went all over this way to the valley of Gayinero. So that’s a whole sector away from Mount Santa Rosa."

The mayor was one of the first to make the call to authorities around 4:25pm. He admits seeing suspicious people nearby just minutes before the fire started, recaling, "I believe they went off roading on the side here before the area where the fire started. They came out and sat on the side of the road. I believe they got stuck in there so I wanted to drive by and ask if they were okay. They were just waiting for their ride. So I thought nothing of it and I did what I had to do. When I came back, they were gone. I believe around five minutes after I parked my car, I heard this whole side cackling."

Blas believes the ignition point was near this telephone box at the bottom of the mountain.  "One thing about Santa Rosa, at least once every year there’s a fire up here. I’d say about 90 percent of the time it’s manmade," he estimated. "That day, I’m not saying that those people who were there were the ones who started the fire, but it's definitely very suspicious."

He recounts the fire spreading rapidly as strong winds pushed the flames towards homes, threatening some residents in the Gayinero area.

The mayor said, "I believe it was right to their backyard. Right next to them is their farm. They told me the fire stopped right next to their banana tree. It got down pretty fast but thankfully GFD was there where the residents were to ensure those homes did not get affected."

Also on saturday, a grass fire flaring across Harvest Christian Academy around noon, which the Guam Fire Department got under control within ten minutes.

And Friday night there were two separate blazes - around 9pm, a fire broke-out near the Dandan area down in Malojloj; and there was a separate close call for Oceanview Middle School, which felt the heat in Hagat at 7pm.

GFD spokesperson Lieutenant Nick Garrido told KUAM News, "Initially, it wasn’t a threat, however the winds started to pick up and it did become a threat. Fortunately, there was a basketball game in the evening that just ended. So there was no need for an evacuation as the patrons of the school were leaving the campus."

He notes a “significant increase” in the number of grass fires compared to last year.  While the Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division continues to map the full extent of acres burned, he says the damages too are “significant.” And it’s not out on the woods just yet, as critical fire weather conditions continue to persist this week. 

"We’re not in the clear yet. It is still the dry season," Garrido said. "Additionally, the national weather service along with the Office of Civil Defense have constantly pushed out press releases regarding red flag with our wind condition, surf advisories and the no burning, as well. So we are not in the clear just yet."

It’s why officials say if you see something, say something.  "Even if they’re burning at their house, the embers can easily reach across the street and do something like this," she said.