A grass fire quickly erupted into a 55-acre fire that destroyed one outbuilding and threatened a neighborhood of track homes Sunday.

The fire started in a field off Desert Dunes Court in Sacramento County at about 5 p.m. Sunday, fire officials said.

As Metro Fire Chopper One dropped water on nearby homes, homeowners grabbed garden hoses to defend their houses.

"I feel lucky," said homeowner Justin Wade. "I was just in Armageddon. It was pretty bad. The smoke was so bad I could not breathe. My eyes were burning."

Firefighters said a 20- to 30-foot defensible space around a home is the best defense.

"Its critical down here," said Sacramento Metro Firefighter Ron Denny. "We have very dry grass this time of year. That defensible space is paramount for us to protect structures."

Firefighters said homeowners concerned about neighboring fire hazards and high grass should contact the homeowner before calling the fire department to investigate.