Bear bites firefighter in shoe fire in California, investigation ongoing

SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. (KRCR) – A firefighter was bitten by a bear Tuesday evening while working at the Shoe Fire Department in Shasta County.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said the firefighter was bitten by the bear while he was sleeping.

North West Team 12 (NWT) said the firefighter was sleeping in the back of a pickup truck when he felt a jolt that woke him from his sleep. When he woke up, he saw a bear, which then bit him and ran away. It was confirmed that the firefighter was bitten on his rear end.

The firefighter said the bear appeared to be young, but was not a cub.

The CDFW said the firefighter was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

The NWT said that after receiving a tetanus shot, the firefighter returned to work the next day and was at the scene of the fire.

This incident is being actively investigated by the CDFW.