Hawk Hitting Power Lines Ignites 2 Brush Fires
Two small brush fires scorched two acres near Simi Valley within two hours Sunday after a hawk crashed into an electrical line, authorities said.
The fires ignited along Tapo Canyon and Gillisbrand Canyon roads just north of the city about 4:30 p.m. and were contained by 6:30 p.m., said Pam Smears, a Ventura County Fire Department dispatcher.
More than four dozen firefighters and two water-dropping helicopters responded.
“It was small, but we didn’t want it to get out of hand,” Smears said. “This is brush fire season, after all.”
Both fires are believed to have started when a hawk flew into nearby electrical wires and caused a spark.
“Edison’s wires weren’t damaged, but the hawk was,” Sears said. “He was dead at the scene.”
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