BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A rollover crash sparked a grass fire Monday morning, which then turned into a tire fire in east Bakersfield leaving fire crews scrambling to protect nearby homes.

The fire broke out before 8 a.m. this morning on Comanche Road when firefighters say an SUV crashed, rolled and then caught fire.

Firefighters said it appears that the car may have been stolen, and they have forwarded information to the Bakersfield Police Department to investigate.

The fire burned about 10 acres of grassland and quickly engulfed a group of about 50 tires, but firefighters say it could have all been much worse.

Bill Ballard, Bakersfield Fire Battalion Chief, said, “If we'd had a stronger wind, later in the afternoon when the temperature was hotter of course, and the humidity's down a little lower, it could have traveled into some neighborhoods and then we would have had a lot more problems."

Firefighters were able to extinguish the grass fire in about 20 minutes with four engine companies and the help of four light brush companies.