A bizarre incident in rural Canada has been attributed to a fish dropped by an osprey, causing a brush fire that led to a power outage. Firefighters responded to the blaze near the village of Ashcroft, British Columbia, where ranchers and utility workers were already battling the flames.
The fire was extinguished using approximately 4,800 gallons of water, but the cause surprised crews. According to Ashcroft fire officials, the fish was dropped by an osprey onto a hydro line, creating embers that fell onto dry grass below.
Officials speculated that the bird may have dropped its catch due to fatigue from the heat or simply tired of raw fish. The osprey, a bird of prey common in the area, was not injured in the incident and remains at large.
No human injuries were reported, though the fire left a charred landscape. The fire service thanked BC Hydro, local ranchers, and road maintenance crews for their assistance in containing the blaze.
