Bird caught on power line causes devastating fire

August 2024 · 2 minute read

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A massive California grass fire that scorched 156 acres of land — damaging a multimillion-dollar home — erupted when a “large bird” caught fire on a power line, officials announced.

The so-called Star Fire broke out on steep terrain near Falling Star Lane and Chino Hills Parkway in Chino Hills around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, KTLA reported.

In a Monday statement, the Chino Valley Independent Fire District explained that the bird sparked the blaze when it “[made] contact with the high-voltage power lines of a power pole.”

“The bird subsequently caught fire, falling to the ground and igniting the dry grass,” officials said.

It wasn’t long before the blaze took hold and spread — the Chino Valley Independent Fire District initially reported a 50-acre vegetation fire, but it ultimately covered more than 100 additional acres, the local station reported. The ritzy home on Miramonte Court was “damaged,” fire officials said.

Some 185 firefighters were on scene.

Crews even ran out of water as they tried to knock down the fire, Toni Forrest, who lives at the home that burned in the blaze, told the outlet.

Fire district spokeswoman Massiel De Guevara told the station that the water pressure dropped for a “brief moment,” but utility officials fixed the problem “fairly quickly.”

The blaze was 80 percent contained by Monday, the city of Chino Hills said in a statement.

Three firefighters were stung by bees as they battled the flames, and one was hospitalized, De Guevara told the station. No other injuries were reported.

Several affected residents were using garden hoses to dampen their homes — but De Guevara discouraged that, saying that people should instead evacuate when a fire is approaching.

“We had resources in place,” she said.

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