Climbing cat causes fire near Soap Lake

Richard Byrd | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 10 months AGO

Grant County Fire District No. 13/courtesy photo - Firefighters were able to put a damper on an early Thursday morning fire near Soap Lake that was reportedly caused by a cat climbing a power pole.

SOAP LAKE — A curious feline reportedly climbed a power pole and sparked a brush fire near Soap Lake.

An Ephrata Police Department officer initially spotted the fire north of Ephrata about 4 a.m. Firefighters with Grant County Fire District No. 13 arrived in the area and discovered a several acre wildfire north of an alfalfa field near Road B Northwest and Road 20 Northwest, west of Soap Lake.

Grant County Fire District No. 7 and the Ephrata Fire Department responded to provide mutual aid. Crews were able to keep the fire from spreading “in an area with a high potential for growth,” according to GCFD No. 13. Grant County PUD crews responded to the scene and determined a cat had climbed a power pole in the area and sparked the fire in the dry brush below the pole. There were no reported injuries or structures destroyed.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.