Investigators have fingered a careless smoke-carrying bird as the culprit behind a fire in London.
Fire investigators think a bird nicked a smouldering cigarette butt and dropped it into a nest in the roof area, causing it to catch on fire.
Fire investigation officer Matt Cullen investigated the scene.
When we got up into the roof, we were baffled as there were no obvious ignition sources – no one had been up to there for a long time and there were no electrics that could have sparked a blaze. We looked everywhere, but the smoking gun was found when we discovered a partially burnt birds nest. Neighbours told us they often saw birds flying in and out of a hole in the roof.”
The fire, which damaged about a fifth of the roof and forced nine people out of their flat, is an example of why smoking humans are really the fault and not the critters.
Cullen said it was lucky for the residents who were forced to flee that neighbours saw the smoke and raised the alarm. It took four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers to put out the blaze.
Meanwhile, there’s a bird out there really wanting a pint to go with that cig.
h/t: London Fire Brigade
Photo credit: London Fire Brigade
