Over the weekend a local news story told the tale.  A grass fire started near Garden of the Gods and it wasn’t started by any of the usual suspects - lightning, carelessness, wind blown sparks.  Instead, it was started by a squirrel!

Apparently, a squirrel was on the power lines and touched 2 lines at the same time, thus committing squirrel suicide and bursting into flames and falling to the dry landscape below.  This started a grass fire which nearby neighbors held at bay until fire crews arrived to put out the blaze.  So the next time you see a squirrel on the power lines nearby, keep your hose handy.  You might need it.