Aggressive bees removed from under Briggs home

September 25, 2012, 7:59 pm by James Walker

Briggs Volunteer Fire Department Chief Melinda Wessels and Lt. Chad Swanson don protective suits as they prepare to examine a large hive of aggressive honey bees Thursday at a residence on CR 210.

It took members of the Briggs Volunteer Fire Department, Capital EMS staffers, a Burnet County Sheriff’s Office deputy and, finally, a 79-year-old Meadowlakes beekeeper to subdue a large swarm of aggressive bees at a rural home last week.

The incident began Thursday when members of the Briggs VFD responded to the scene of a reported bee attack at a residence in the 800 block of CR 210.

"When we got there, the homeowner advised that he had been stung several times, but did not need medical attention,” Briggs VFD Chief Melinda Wessels said.

The homeowner, who Wessels did not identify, told the first responders that the beehive was under the mobile home and had been there for some time, Wessels said.

 "He said there had not been any problems with them being aggressive until recently,” Wessels said.

As the firefighters attempted to locate the hive, the bees swarmed and attacked them and their vehicles, forcing them to remove themselves and their vehicles from the scene, Wessels said.

All of the firefighters were stung numerous times on the face and hands, but they were checked out and treated by members of a Capital EMS crew and pronounced okay, Wessels said.

For the full story, see Wednesday’s Bulletin.