Bird blamed for fishy Canada fire

TORONTO (AFP) — Firefighters who found a charred fish at a fire in western Canada believe a tired bird may be to blame for sparking flames.

The fire department in Ashcroft, British Columbia, was called to respond to a heavy fire about six kilometers south of the town on 30 July.

“A quick investigation revealed the cause of this fire. It was determined to be a fish.

“Yes, you read that right, the fish had an incredible journey,” the department said in a Facebook post.

The nearest river is three kilometers away, but investigators determined the fish was scooped up by an osprey, which then dropped it onto a power line mid-flight.

Sparks from the disrupted line ignited the dry grass below, the department said, speculating the bird may have dropped its catch because it was tired from the excess heat.