Pig pedometer eaten by other pigs found to be cause of fire on farm

Fire crews were called out to an unusual incident this weekend - when a pig eating a pedometer led to a fire on a farm.
The fire service said the copper from the batteries of the pedometer ignited the contents of the pigpens. Credit: NYFRSThe fire service said the copper from the batteries of the pedometer ignited the contents of the pigpens. Credit: NYFRS
The fire service said the copper from the batteries of the pedometer ignited the contents of the pigpens. Credit: NYFRS

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called out just after 1.30pm on March 7 to a farm near Bramham.

After putting the fire out, they discovered the cause of the fire was a battery-powered pedometer - used to prove the pig is free-range - which had been eaten by the other pigs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The service tweeted: "13:37 Should be an oink not a tweet. Tadcaster and Knaresbororough firecrews attended a fire to 4 pigpens near Bramham. No pigs harmed. Cause of fire attributed to a battery powered pedometer carried by one of the pigs (to prove it was free-range), which was eaten by the other pigs.

"After nature had taken its course, it's believed that the copper from the batteries reacted with the pigpens contents and in conjunction with dry bedding, ignited burning approx. 75sqm of hay. A hosereel was used to extinguish the fire and save the bacon."

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.