RUMFORD – Rumford Keith Bickford said he gets some strange emergency calls and Wednesday night’s was one.

He and five other Rumford firefighters were called to a fire atop a lamppost on Congress Street, finding it “fully engulfed,” the lieutenant said.

Inside was a grassy nest, probably built several years ago by sparrows, which are common on the street. The lamp’s lens was missing and the heat of the light apparently ignited the nest, Bickford said.

A dry powder extinguisher put the fire out in five seconds.

Central Maine Power Co. was called to take the lamp down.

Lineman Bob Kellogg said birds often build nests in lights, but this is the first time he has seen one catch fire. The nest was apparently empty.

The town will pay for the damage.

eadams@sunjournal.com