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.