California firefighters swarmed by hundreds of bees while fighting wildfire

Despite the hurdle, firefighters were able to contain the blaze to 1.6 acres in less than 15 minutes, the Modesto Fire Department said.

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. Firefighters were met with an extra challenge Thursday while fighting a wildfire in Stanislaus County, California.

According to the Modesto Fire Department, some firefighters were stung, but no one needed medical attention.

In a Facebook post, the Modesto Fire Department said while fighting a fire that was burning grass and bee boxes, firefighters were met with throngs of swarming bees.

The fire department said the fire caused about $40,000 in damage. There were about 40 bee boxes at the scene of the fire. 

The fire department included photos of the bees on fire trucks at the fire scene.

In the photos, Modesto firefighters and firefighters from the CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit can be seen fighting the blaze. 

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A photo shows Modesto and CAL Fire units responding to a wildfire where they were swarmed by bees.  (Modesto Fire Department/ Facebook)

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Modesto and CAL Fire units fought wildfire in Stanislaus County, California, where they were swarmed by bees.  (Modesto Fire Department/Facebook)

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Smoke and burned grass from a wildfire where firefighters were swarmed by bees  (Modesto Fire Department/Facebook)

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Photo of bees swarming a fire truck at the scene of a wildfire in Stanislaus County, California (Modesto Fire Department/Facebook)

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Zoomed in photo of bees swarming a fire truck at the scene of a wildfire in Stanislaus County, California (Modesto Fire Department/Facebook)

Despite the hurdle, firefighters were able to contain the blaze to 1.6 acres in less than 15 minutes, the Modesto Fire Department said. 

The bes were removed from the fire trucks with water, the department said.