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Electrocuted Bear Cubs Fall From Power Pole, Ignite Small Brush Fire

BANNING (AP) — Southern California fire officials say a brush fire was ignited in Banning when two bear cubs climbed a power pole, were electrocuted by high-voltage lines and their burning bodies fell to the ground.

Riverside County firefighters responded to the 1:46 a.m. Tuesday incident and stopped the fire's spread at 1½ acres.

The mother bear and another cub were in the area while 63 firefighters worked the blaze but they were not considered a threat.

State Fish and Wildlife authorities were called to deal with the deceased cubs.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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