SALINE COUNTY – A fire at a rural Saline County residence is being blamed on a riding lawnmower .

Marc Thomas, 54, Smolan, had been mowing his yard and parked the mower on a patio behind his house in the 300 Block of South Main, according to Undersheriff Roger Soldan.

Thirty minutes later, a neighbor told Thomas the back of his house was on fire.

The blaze melted the siding on the back of the house, melted a gas can and destroyed the 1982 Honda Goldwing motorcycle.

Thomas who put the fire out before emergency crews arrived suffered burns to his feet.

Marquette Fire and EMS responded to the fire as did Saline County Rural Fire District #2.

The loss is estimated at $2,500, according to Soldan.