Star Fire In Chino Hills Blamed On Large Bird Flying Into Power Pole; Crews Near Full Containment

CHINO HILLS (CBSLA) — Firefighters say a big bird is to blame for starting the massive Star Fire that caused major damage to a multi-million dollar home in Chino Hills.

The 156-acre Star Fire apparently started after a "large bird" made contact with power lines Sunday, according to Chino Valley Fire officials. After striking the pole, the bird caught fire and fell to the ground, igniting dry brush in the area, officials said.

Fire officials along with SoCal Edison reps determined a transformer was not involved as originally reported.

The fire was 80 percent contained as of Monday morning. Chino Avenue remains closed from Chino Hills Parkway to Box Springs Road.

Three firefighters suffered bee stings during the firefight. Two were treated on the scene, and one was taken to a hospital.

The fire erupted at about 2 p.m. Sunday in a rugged area near Falling Star Lane and Chino Hills Parkway, Chino Valley fire officials said.

Fire officials on Monday confirmed that a momentary drop in water pressure Sunday, due to the combination of firefighters tapping into the water supply alongside homeowners who also took up garden hoses to try and protect their homes.

"We immediately contacted the water department and asked them to up the water pressure, which they did, and we were quickly able to resume operations at 100 percent," Chino Valley Fire spokeswoman Massiel Ladron De Guevara said.

At the height of the brush fire, about 180 firefighters, four helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft from Chino Valley, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County and CalFire were battling the blaze.