Firefighters in British Columbia’s Interior have uncovered a rather unusual cause behind a small brush fire and subsequent power outage — an osprey and a fish. Ashcroft Fire Rescue responded to the fire, situated south of Ashcroft, which is approximately 67 kilometers west of Kamloops, shortly before noon on Wednesday. With the assistance of local ranchers and B.C. Hydro employees, the fire was quickly contained.
Upon investigating the source of the blaze, Fire Chief Josh White reported discovering a charred fish at the base of a power pole. “We were just wondering, how did this get here?” he said, highlighting the bewildering nature of the find. It was concluded that the fish had been dropped by an osprey. As it fell, it struck a couple of power lines, igniting embers that eventually set the surrounding grasses ablaze.
The fire occurred about three kilometers from the nearest river, suggesting that the bird might have been exhausted due to the heat of the day, leading to its unfortunate loss of grip on its catch. Firefighters humorously noted in a social media update that the “prime suspect sustained no injuries in the incident.”
The small fire had a brief impact on the local area, knocking out power temporarily. Firefighters, along with ranchers, utilized approximately 4,800 gallons of water to extinguish the flames, showcasing the community’s prompt response and collaboration in managing the situation.
This strange incident serves as a reminder of how interconnected nature and our daily lives can be, demonstrating both the challenges and unexpected moments of humor found in wildlife interactions.