More Squirrel Arson
Sure, everyone paid attention when the flaming Kamikaze squirrel torched a Toyota. But they called it a freak accident and laughed about it. There's something appealingly appalling about cometary squirrels that briefly got people's attention. But the fact is that the hive mind of the squirrels realize they have found a winning technique against humans: squirrel arson works.
A squirrel who apparently gnawed through some of the wiring inside a wall or ceiling is being blamed for a fire that caused significant damage to all six of the units in one building of the Twin Lakes townhomes late last week.
Sheila Kirkwood, assistant chief of the Whistler Fire Rescue Service (WFRS), on Tuesday (Oct. 30) said the incident should serve as a reminder that homeowners should have electrical systems and attics checked periodically for any problems.
“It’s a good idea to do some regular maintenance. Have an inspection of your crawlspaces and concealed spaces at least once a year,” Kirkwood said. The blaze, which was first reported on Friday (Oct. 26) at around noon, kept 30 to 35 firefighters busy for 5 ? hours. Kirkwood said fighting the blaze, which started inside the wall and/or ceiling of an upper bedroom, was challenging because of the wide variety of wall and ceiling materials used. The building was built in the mid-1980s.
Sure, it's not as spectacular as a detonating Toyota, but more people were impacted this time. Which only means the next attack will be even worse. The hive mind of the squirrels is very unhappy that their chocolate supply has been cut off.
By plantlady, Sunday, 4 November , 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Not as crazy as it sounds. I used to work for an organization at which every year, around “holiday” time, they solicited donations for their “Tree of Lights.” If you donated, you got your own light bulb. The tree–a large, lovely pine–was outside. Facilities Management would string the lights on the tree, and the CEO would ceremoniously press the “on” button to start the holiday season. That is, until the year the squirrels started gnawing on the wiring. The CEU hit the “on” button, the lights exploded, the tree caught on fire, and the squirrels got fried. Now, the (fake) fir is inside–and if you make a donation, you get an ornament. Phooey. Not as much fun.
By Gaius, Sunday, 4 November , 2007 @ 5:20 pm
That had to be a sight to see!
By NortonPete, Sunday, 4 November , 2007 @ 6:02 pm
There is actually an important public warning in all of this and it isn’t just have your house inspected. When I was on a local Fire dept., a squirrel ( red ) got into someone’s expensive new home and chewed into their 110V line in the wall just so that the squirrel who was electrocuted became a conductor between the neutral and the hot. It was a 20 amp circuit and the dead squirrel didn’t trip the circuit breaker but did generate enough heat to set the wall on fire. Like putting a space heater against the wall.
There was extensive fire damage. Beware of squirrels
By mockinbird, Monday, 5 November , 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Yum, fried squirrel! An Eastern Kentucky favorite!