Fire crews in Moore County responded to an unusual cause of a woods fire in the Pinebluff area Sunday afternoon — a tree that had been damaged by a beaver.
Pinebluff Fire and Rescue and the North Carolina Forest Service were called to rural farmland after a beaver-gnawed tree was knocked over by strong winds. Fire officials say the weakened tree fell onto power lines, sparking a small fire in the surrounding woods.
Despite dry and windy conditions that could have allowed the flames to spread quickly, firefighters were able to contain the fire to less than two acres. No injuries were reported, and no structures were damaged.
Fire officials did not release the exact location of the incident, but credited the fast response of local crews with keeping the situation from becoming more serious.
Beavers are known for dramatically altering landscapes by felling trees, building dams, and changing water flow — and in this case, one beaver’s handiwork indirectly helped trigger a fire.
It’s another reminder that dry winter conditions combined with high winds can create dangerous fire risks, even from unexpected causes.
