A small grass fire on the Flathead Indian Reservation that ignited on Aug. 9 had a tragic start but was quickly brought under control.
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal (CSKT) firefighters and rural fire departments made quick work of a two acre grassfire northwest of Ravalli that started when a black bear cub climbed a power pole, was electrocuted and fell, starting the grass fire.
C.T. Camel, CSKT fire management specialist, said it happened on an important day.
"Yes, a black bear. And it was on Smokey Bear’s Birthday, his 76th birthday," Camel said.
Camel says this is not the first time a wild animal has climbed this power pole. A couple of years ago a squirrel ran up the same pole, met the same, tragic end, fell and started a grass fire.
Camel says he does not know what the attraction is to this particular power pole.
