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.
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