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Barbequed Buzzard Starts Fire
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La Grange Firefighter Mike Proske and a lineman from Fayette Electric Cooperative inspect the power pole where the fire started. The electrocuted buzzard can be seen at the base of the pole. Photo by Andy Behlen
A buzzard sparked a brush fire on the Bluff Friday afternoon. La Grange Volunteer Fire Department got the call a little after 3 p.m. on Sept. 27. Workers at Frisch Auf called in the fire after seeing smoke on top of a hill behind the swimming pool. Firefighters arrived and found a smoldering dead buzzard at the base of an electric pole on top of the hill.
The buzzard apparently landed on the pole and electrocuted itself on a wire. The buzzard then caught on fire and fell to the ground, where it started the brush fire. The fire spread to some dead trees scattered on the ground around the property. The rugged, steep terrain challenged the firefighters and their trucks. But they managed to contain the fire within about 20 minutes of arrival. No property was seriously damaged, and there were no injuries.