Wash. man lights gas-soaked beehive, causes explosion

LYNDEN, Wash. — The Lynden, Wash., fire chief says a local man dumped gasoline on a beehive in a tree in retaliation for a bee sting, then ignited the hive, causing an explosion heard throughout his suburban neighborhood.

Chief Gary Baar tells the Bellingham Herald that the Sunday night fire caused a large "whoosh," singed the tree and killed the bees but no people were hurt.

Baar says the man's friend had been stung earlier in the day.

The fire chief says, "The correct way to do that is to call a beekeeper."

While firefighters explained that to the homeowner, the newspaper says it doesn't appear that he'll be cited.