Goose starts Calif. fire and survives

By Rob Rogers
Marin Independent Journal

NOVATO, Calif. — Novato firefighters battled a half-acre wildlands blaze Sunday that began when a goose flew into power lines near the Gnoss Field airport and the Mira Monte Marina.

"The goose flew into the lines that provided power to a pumping station," said Capt. Alex Bowlds of the Novato Fire Protection District. "The goose caught on fire, and fell. The grass caught on fire. And the rest is history."

Because the fire took place in a remote area about half a mile east of the marina, near the northeast corner of the airport firefighters had to travel by foot to battle the blaze.

The fire, which began shortly after noon Sunday, was extinguished by about 3:30, Bowlds said. Remarkably, the three firefighters who took part in the event found the errant goose, "well burned, but still alive," Bowlds said.

The firefighters sent the injured goose to the Marin County Humane Society for treatment.

Copyright 2012 Marin Independent Journal, a MediaNews Group publication

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