Current:Home > StocksBird ignites fire in Colorado after it hits power lines, gets electrocuted: 'It happens' -GrowthSphere Strategies
Bird ignites fire in Colorado after it hits power lines, gets electrocuted: 'It happens'
View
Date:2025-04-12 21:51:00
A brush fire that broke out behind a restaurant in Colorado was caused by an unlikely suspect: a bird.
The three-acre brush fire that sparked just northeast of The Fort restaurant in Morrison, a town about 20 miles from Denver, was caused by a bird that caught fire after it hit power lines and was electrocuted, West Metro Fire Rescue said in a post on social media.
"When it fell to the ground - it ignited the brush on the ground," the agency said.
The fire, that started in a field away from structure, burned in grass and oak brush, the fire rescue service said, adding firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire and clean up the area.
'It happens'
When a user on X asked the agency about the odds of such an incident occurring, the fire department said: "Well, it happens. Not all the time, but, it happens."
Turns out birds can actually trigger wildfire. The Wildlife Society Bulletin, in a 2022 research paper, noted that one of at least 44 wildfires was caused by electrocuted birds in the United States from 2014 through 2018.
One of the authors of the research paper Taylor Barnes had told the New York Times at the time of publishing that bird electrocutions usually occur in places with few trees, where bigger bird species may perch or nest on utility poles. While a bird can rest on one wire with no problem, touching two wires simultaneously or touching one wire and a piece of grounded equipment, such as a transformer, can spark an issue.
Wildfires in Colorado
Colorado, meanwhile, is battling several wildfires that broke out along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains this week due to a persistent drought and stretches of intense heat.
Four wildfires broke out between Monday and Wednesday along the Front Range, which runs from central Colorado into Wyoming, passing near several major cities including Denver. The fires grew rapidly and encroached on populated areas, forcing hundreds of people to flee. Several dozens of homes have been destroyed, officials said.
West Metro Fire Rescue, in their post, also warned of dry and hot conditions saying that "fire danger is VERY HIGH in West Metro's district," and that extreme weather conditions will persist in the coming days.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, Claire Thornton, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (9664)
Related
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Emily Deschanel on 'uncomfortable' and 'lovely' parts of rewatching 'Bones'
- Dancing With the Stars' Gleb Savchenko Shares Message to Artem Chigvintsev Amid Divorce
- The Daily Money: Look out for falling interest rates
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- RHOSLC Alum Monica Garcia Returning to TV in Villainous New Role
- Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's 4 Kids Look So Grown Up in Back-to-School Photos
- US nuclear repository is among the federally owned spots identified for renewable energy projects
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Americans can now renew passports online and bypass cumbersome paper applications
Ranking
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- 'World-changing' impact: Carlsbad Caverns National Park scolds visitor who left Cheetos
- Sean “Diddy” Combs Pleads Not Guilty in Sex Trafficking Case After Arrest
- Heat Protectants That Will Save Your Hair From Getting Fried
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- YouTuber Aspyn Ovard Reveals Whether She'd Get Married Again After Parker Ferris Split
- Florence Pugh Confirms New Relationship 2 Years After Zach Braff Split
- The Laneige Holiday Collection 2024 Is Here: Hurry to Grab Limited-Edition Bestsellers, Value Sets & More
Recommendation
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
When does 'The Penguin' come out? Release date, cast, where to watch the new 'Batman' series
Wheel of Fortune Contestant's Painful Mistake Costs Her $1 Million in Prize Money
US nuclear repository is among the federally owned spots identified for renewable energy projects
Small twin
Tallulah Willis Details Painful Days Amid Dad Bruce Willis' Health Battle
Dancing With the Stars' Jenn Tran Shares How She's Leaning on Jonathan Johnson After Breakup
Who's that baby hippo on your timeline? Meet the wet, chubby 'lifestyle icon' captivating the internet