Midrash for Bava Kamma 121:8
אמר רבא ד' אמות שאמרו דפטור אפילו בשדה קוצים אמר רב פפא ומשפת קוצים ולמעלה ד' אמות
OR A CANAL, THERE WOULD BE NO LIABILITY.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As this could not have been expected; it is thus considered a mere accident. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. But was it not taught: 'If it crossed a fence four cubits high there would [still] be liability'? — R. Papa thereupon said: The Tanna of our ruling [here] was reckoning downwards; [at the height of] six cubits there would be exemption; at five cubits, there would be exemption; down to [the height of] four cubits<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Including a fence of the height of four cubits. ');"><sup>14</sup></span>
Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael
"If fire go out and it find thorns": "thorns" are mentioned only to assign a limit (for his liability). If thorns are present (and carry the fire), there is a limit (for his liability). If they are not present (and he lights it directly) there is no limit. From here they ruled: If it crossed a river or a (public) way or a fence ten cubits high and caused damage, he is not liable. How is he perceived? He is perceived as standing in the midst of a beth-kor and damaging, (liability obtaining up to about 137 cubits on all sides.) R. Eliezer says: Sixteen cubits, as (the distance of) the public way. R. Akiva says: Fifty cubits. R. Shimon says: "Pay shall he pay, he that lights the fire" — all according to the fire (i.e., according to the height of the fire and its mass. The bigger it is, the farther it travels.) It once happened that a fire crossed the Jordan and caused damage because of its mass. When is this so? When it moves in spurts; but when it moves contiguously, even up to a mil, he is liable.
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