The pigs were wearing pedometers in a rather crafty way to prove that they were free-range. However, pigs being pigs, one ate the others' walking tracker. A rather ironic feat.
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But as we all know, what goes in must come out and the adventurous eater excreted the now mangled device. As it turns out, the copper wires in the pedometers battery caused a reaction with the dried hay in the pigpen, starting a rather large fire. According to the Independent, the fire reached up to 75 sqm before it was contained by the fire brigade.
The North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service saw the humour in the situation and shared the info on Twitter:
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 other1/2
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) March 7, 2020
2/2 ...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.
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) March 7, 2020
