2 electrocuted bear cubs determined to be cause of Banning fire

Officials have determined the cause of a vegetation fire that ignited in the Banning Bench area early Tuesday morning. Firefighters said two bear cubs climbed up a power pole and made contact with the high voltage power lines, electrocuting them.

According to Cal Fire, the two bear cubs fell into the surrounding vegetation, which ignited the fire.

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Firefighters made a request for State Fish and Game officers to respond to the fire scene after finding a dead bear cub that appears to have been electrocuted.

The Incident Commander said a mother bear and another cub were in the fire area, but no threat to personnel.

There was no confirmation on whether the electrocuted bear cub may have been the cause of the fire.

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Firefighters said they had stopped the forward progress of a small wildfire that broke out in Banning early Tuesday morning.

The fire was reported at 1:46 a.m. along Bluff Street on the Banning Bench.

Firefighters said it had blackened 1.5 acres of land and was burning in heavy fuels.

A release said crews had stopped the fire’s forward growth and expected to be on scene for three to four hours.

10 engine companies and 63 firefighters from both Riverside County and Cal Fire were quickly assigned to the fire.

There was no immediate word on the fire’s cause.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 News for updates.