Flaming bird carcass blamed for wildfire in Colorado, 2nd of same origin in same month

On July 31, a brush fire popped up near The Fort Restaurant in Morrison, Colorado. Thanks to a quick response from West Metro Fire, the blaze was quickly contained, ultimately burning about three acres with no structures destroyed and no injuries reported. That said, the way the fire started is noteworthy and reminiscent of another recent incident.

The investigation into the Morrison blaze determined that it was sparked by a bird that was electrocuted by overhead power lines, then falling to the ground in flames. This was enough to spark a fire in the dry grass.

OutThere Colorado readers may notice that this story seems a bit familiar. That's because a much larger fire that sparked earlier in the month had similar origins.

Starting on July 13 and eventually growing to 1,115 acres, Quail Hollow Fire in the area of Byers was also sparked by a flaming bird carcass, lit ablaze after coming into contact with energized electrical equipment and falling into dry vegetation on the ground below.

Both of these cases go to show just how random the start of a wildfire can be, also highlight why it's so crucial to always be prepared to evacuate if need be.

Part of this preparation means having a bag of supplies ready to go and knowing what must be collected around the house should a rapid evacuation become necessary. Here's a list of helpful tips that will make it easier to evacuate if needed.

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