Home › Latest News › Latest Local News
UPDATED: Flaming squirrel started spot fire
Photo by Greg Barnette / Record Searchlight
Redding firefighters work to contain a blaze near Market an Benton on Monday.
Photo by Greg Barnette / Record Searchlight
Redding firefighter Aaron Lee fights a blaze near Market and Benton on Monday.
A squirrel shorted out a high-voltage power line, caught fire and dropped into dry vegetation this morning — sparking a brush fire along North Market Street just north of Benton Drive.
Pushed by winds up a steep hill, the 8:50 a.m. fire quickly grew from the base of a power pole to one acre. One home at the end of Barbara Road was briefly threatened, said Battalion Chief Gerry Gray of the Redding Fire Department.
Fire crews contained the blaze, which started behind the former Catanio’s Italian restaurant, within 20 minutes, Gray said. Eighteen firefighters and six fire engines responded to the blaze.
Click here to sign up for breaking news alerts and receive an email when news happens.
Posted by downtownbrown on October 13, 2008 at 9:11 a.m.
Well, by the sounds of the continuing sirens from my south Rdg neighborhood 8 minutes after this update, it is likely a second or third-alarm structure fire!!
Posted by grich530 on October 13, 2008 at 9:18 a.m.
They have already put the fire out and are now doing clean up.
Posted by Wanda on October 13, 2008 at 9:55 a.m.
in response to downtownbrown
It was a 2nd alarm....and I was supposed to be on that radio, lol....talked 194 into switching with me. I owe her a coffee. :)
Posted by Gonealot on October 13, 2008 at 11:45 a.m.
The Flaming Squirrel. Man that sounds like a name for a punk band or maybe a nerds bike gang. Oh yeah, here come the big bad Flaming Squirrels on their Goldwings, complete with trailers.
Posted by ShastaCoNative on October 13, 2008 at 11:46 a.m.
Do we hold the Squirrel liable for the cost of supression? Or at least his estate??
Posted by msbehavekim on October 13, 2008 at 11:50 a.m.
Poor squirrel!
Posted by ambercita on October 13, 2008 at 11:57 a.m.
squirrel aflame! squirrel aflame!
Posted by MrWiggly on October 13, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
Rocky. the flying squirrel, must of had a couple of defective heat shield tiles. Quick, call Barr & Mudford. His heirs will be filthy rich!
Posted by MrWiggly on October 13, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
PS....Bullwinkle had better lay low for the next week or two. Still haven't filled by tags yet...
Posted by web on October 13, 2008 at 12:11 p.m.
Squirrel is an Italian dish?
Posted by spanner on October 13, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.
Taste like chicken .
Posted by BearMtBiker on October 13, 2008 at 12:16 p.m.
Scientists at Whatsamatta U. have confirmed the failure of the SOS- the Squirrel Orbiting System, during a test today. Spokesperson Moose "Bull" Winkle told reporters today. The Pilot's name was withheld pending notification of his 7,436 next of kin...
Posted by jusdafactspls on October 13, 2008 at 12:31 p.m.
It just makes you giggle for some reason...squirrels are just plain funny...even when their flesh is burning and they are starting fires...I don't know what it is!!!
Posted by Baseball on October 13, 2008 at 12:39 p.m.
Squirrels are just rats with better P.R.
Posted by rocckhound on October 13, 2008 at 12:45 p.m.
When I fought fires with the forest service I had to put out a few flaming wood rats as they tried to jump the fire line.
Stomping out the flames was always hard on the rats!
Posted by HappyPhil on October 13, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.
Ahh Nuts!
Posted by Math_teacher1 on October 13, 2008 at 1:03 p.m.
When I was a student at Anderson High back in the late 90's we got out of school one day because a squirrel bite through an electric line, fried himself and knocked out power to the school.
Posted by From_Anderson_now_in_NY on October 13, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
Where's Bullwinkle when you need him!!!
Posted by tiredofstupidpeople on October 13, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
I'm sure the idiots at PETA will want a full investigation. Probably want to get an injuction against the power company. Maybe even some sort of protest and a lawsuit
Posted by alumni_pine_st_school on October 13, 2008 at 1:16 p.m.
A popular Cajun Dish: "Blackend Squirrel"
Posted by Another_Acronym on October 13, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.
in response to alumni_pine_st_school
"Blackend Squirrel"
Is that like a black tail deer? Only smaller?
Posted by Willie_P_Richardson on October 13, 2008 at 1:55 p.m.
when i saw the headline i figured either flaming hot on fire squirrill or maybe but doubt full flamboyant and effiminate pyromaniac squirrill.
either way the lil guy started a fire.
<a href=http://www.illwillpress.com/vault.html>more on the evil's of squirrills< a/>
Posted by Willie_P_Richardson on October 13, 2008 at 1:56 p.m.
damn they dont dig clickable links!
Posted by hallertau on October 13, 2008 at 1:57 p.m.
did it have a shaved head and goatee?
once i squirrel fried my houses transformer and knocked out all the computer items in my house
over a 1000 dollars damage
Posted by NorCalNative on October 13, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
I saw a squirrel sleeping right in the middle of street today. I drove around him so I wouldn't wake him from his nap.
Posted by cyorkrun on October 13, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.
Ever since the fire by my apartment on boulder creek and the whole thing about the shaved head and goatee conversation between me and dustybottoms, everyone totally stole it! but its a legend, i guess we're trendsetters. And also, that squirrel was alQaeda.
Posted by JOHNWILL on October 13, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
As any good heterosexual squirrel knows, flaming is a perversion and always leads to... er... sudden combustion.
Save the forests - Vote NO on Prop 8!
Posted by MrWiggly on October 13, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
in response to cyorkrun
"And also, that squirrel was alQaeda"
We need to have it's DNA checked...One responder said it had a wart/mole thing on it's forehead. Maybe one of our high value targets...WHACK!!!
Posted by cottonwoodnoob on October 13, 2008 at 3:24 p.m.
Do you think his buddies were up in the trees laughing their butts off to see to see their crazy buddy running around with his tail on fire-trying to blow it out?
Posted by Momofthree on October 13, 2008 at 3:26 p.m.
in response to Willie_P_Richardson
That was my thought, Willie. "Flaming Squirrel". I thought maybe he was wearing a rhinestone jumpsuit with matching cape or pink leather pants. May he rest in peace.....
Posted by MrWiggly on October 13, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.
in response to cottonwoodnoob
Mine would have been....Great mental picture..
TOO FUNNY DUDE!
Posted by sofaking on October 13, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
I heard it was McDilda's pet squirrel...
Posted by alumni_pine_st_school on October 13, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
in response to Another_Acronym
Its a cooking term like "blackned Redfish" was started by a Cajun Chef in New Orleans.
What you do is cook at very high heat and just burn the fish or meat on the outside, leaving the inside cooked but not burnt.
Was very popular in the 90's.
Posted by Another_Acronym on October 13, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.
in response to alumni_pine_st_school
I was referring to your spelling...and now you misspelled it a second time.
Blackend...and then Blackned
Try Blackened
Posted by rational1 on October 13, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.
You people are irresponsible toads! A good squirrel died today, show some respect.
Posted by bryonics on October 13, 2008 at 5:05 p.m.
Shocking story!!!
Posted by pixiedust on October 13, 2008 at 5:48 p.m.
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!! Oh, wait, it's just a flaming squirrel. Sorry if I scared anybody. Signed, Chicken Little
Posted by NorCalHeathen3 on October 13, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.
"I had a little friend once, but he don't move no more." - (As expressed by Meathead the Dog while bemoaning the tragic death of Screwy Squirrel in 1946)
:-D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screwy_Squirrel
Posted by Granny on October 13, 2008 at 6:35 p.m.
Thanks to the Firefighters! We are still in "Fire Alert" and have had too many fires in close quarters this year.
Posted by AnonymousAgain on October 13, 2008 at 7:15 p.m.
LOL Heathen nice post
Posted by NorCalHeathen3 on October 13, 2008 at 7:24 p.m.
"Catanio’s Italian restaurant" should change their name to "Catanio’s Flaming Squirrel Cafe!!!"
:-P
Posted by Willie_P_Richardson on October 13, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.
in response to Momofthree
like a rhinestone squirril riding out on a horse in an electric rodeo!
rhinestone squirril getting zapped by many amp's of electricity that i don't even know,,,,,and calls from the the r,f,d.
sung by rocky cambell
Posted by MaBarker on October 13, 2008 at 9:01 p.m.
in response to Momof4
Boy that's a ruff review. How do you expect us to be able to compete on American Idol, if we don't practice? Oh wait I get it...You playing the Simon Crowel part. Good job.
LOL
Posted by NorCalHeathen3 on October 13, 2008 at 9:33 p.m.
in response to Momof4
Dang it Bourbon... gotta act like a stuffy old fart no matter what the subject?
Your handle would lead me to believe otherwise... but I guess first impressions ain't the only factor to take into account 'round these parts!
Lighten up, bro!
;-D
Posted by jer_tar on October 13, 2008 at 9:55 p.m.
I think they got this wrong. It was just a GRAY squirrel, not a GAY squirrel.
To state that it was a flaming squirrel is a bit slanderous. Think of all that squirrel and its family have gone through already today.
Posted by universitygal on October 14, 2008 at 8:33 a.m.
Bahahahaha...wow...I miss a lot when I go out of town for the weekend...Dang
Posted by Momofthree on October 14, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.
in response to Willie_P_Richardson
LMOA.....
Posted by Momofthree on October 14, 2008 at 11:10 a.m.
in response to Momof4
"...no longer than 6 years old." How long is a six yr old? Lighten up! For once it was something that didnt cause a major altercation! I think you are wrong---I dont think you have a sense of humor at all. Have you ever read about how laughter relieves stress and lengthens your life expectancy? Dont you want to live a little longer?
Posted by Momofthree on October 14, 2008 at 6:53 p.m.
Sorry, meant to say LMAO....
(Requires free registration.)
We're happy to offer a home for your discussions, but please be respectful and follow the house rules:
Stay on topic - Life's too short to waste.
Be nice - If you want your comment gems to survive, you won't defame, threaten or be abusive to other readers or the subjects of our stories. Victims have feelings too. Out of concern for them, we may not allow comments on certain stories.
Keep it clean - This is a public forum, open to civil adults and children who do not appreciate your vulgarities or obscenities.
You are deputized - Police these comment threads. If you see a comment that violates the rules, click "Suggest removal" to flag that comment for review by our staff.
There are consequences - Rule violators may be banned from commenting.
Click here for our full user agreement.
If you wish to participate in off topic discussions, please go to the Redding.com Forums.