Wildfire near Paterson, Washington, believed to have started at an electrical substation
July 2024Published 24 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
On the morning of Tuesday 30 July 2024, a wildfire broke out along Highway 14, west of Paterson, Benton County, Washington. Benton County Fire District #6 was dispatched at about 10am, when the fire was initially estimated at about 100 acres. Fire crews later described the total of around 500 acres as a rough estimate. The fire threatened the Canoe Ridge Vineyard and a winery. Crews from around the state, along with railway and electric personnel, attended, and air resources were used.
Fire crews said the fire seems to have come under control. The Canoe Ridge Vineyard was saved, and winery and vineyard crews cleared access roads and wet the vineyard. Fire crews said after the fire was put out that it is believed to have started when a bird dropped a fish onto an electrical substation. This has not been confirmed. The fire district said squirrels and birds sometimes contact power lines, and that this was not the first animal-caused electrical fire in the district. No evacuations were issued and no injuries were reported.
Contributing factors
Reported cause: fire crews believe a bird dropped a fish onto the electrical substation. This has not been confirmed. The area is rocky and on a hillside, and access was difficult for crews. The fire district noted that animals sometimes land on the wrong equipment and cause electrical faults.
Lessons learned
- Wildlife contact is a recognised suspected ignition source at substations and power lines, so operators in wildland areas should review animal protection measures such as insulation, covers and perch deterrents on exposed equipment.
- Vegetation clearance and defensible space around substations in fire-prone terrain can limit how far an electrical ignition spreads.
- Utilities and fire services should share incident data on animal-caused electrical fires so that patterns can be identified and prevented across the network.
More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, spacing, layout and fire spread, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-24. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
