3 Firefighters Stung as Burn Incites a Swarm
Three firefighters monitoring a controlled burn of brushland this morning in Stone Canyon were attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets and treated at a Sherman Oaks hospital for numerous stings, authorities said.
Two Los Angeles city firefighters and a captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were stung by the insects, apparently when either the fire or firefighters on the scene disturbed a hive about 10 a.m., city fire spokesman Jim Wells said.
The victims, whose names were not released, were not seriously hurt and drove themselves to Sherman Oaks Community Hospital to be treated for the stings, Wells said.
The firefighters were taking part in a routine controlled burn in Stone Canyon near Mulholland Drive. A brush area near hillside homes was being burned in an effort to cut back on dry brush that might burn out of control during fire season later this year.
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