Squirrel causes brush fire, power outage in Idaho Falls - East Idaho News
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Squirrel causes brush fire, power outage in Idaho Falls

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Video courtesy Duane Bosworth

IDAHO FALLS — A squirrel nibbling on a wire caused a small power outage and brush fire Tuesday afternoon in an Idaho Falls neighborhood.

Crews were called to a canal near John Adams Pkwy. and Meppen Dr. around 2 p.m. after several residents heard an explosion and saw grass on fire.

Firefighters were able to put the fire out quickly. Investigators determined the squirrel caused a short in the system and dropped melted wire onto the ground resulting in the fire, according to Idaho Falls city spokeswoman Kerry Hammon.

Three sections of a vinyl fence were damaged and nearly 30 customers were without power, Hammon told EastIdahoNews.com.

Idaho Falls Power crews responded to the scene and were working to restore power.

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