Incident Record
Roofer and neighbor hospitalized after roof hive disturbed in Costa Mesa
A 20-year-old roofer was stung 50 to 75 times while removing shingles from a Costa Mesa roof. A neighbor who came to investigate was also stung. Both were hospitalized; firefighters found an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 bees in a long-established hive under the shingles.
Record ID: CA-ORANGE-2015-1001
This record is part of a first-pass incident research dataset. Records, categories, and source notes may be updated as additional information is reviewed and verified.
Date10/1/2015
LocationCosta Mesa / Liard Place and Klondike Avenue, CA, Orange, CA, United States
CountryUnited States
State / ProvinceCA
Record TypeIncident Report
Trigger / ActivityConstruction / Equipment / Structural Work
SeverityHospitalized
Bee ID StatusBee ID Unknown
Aggression ClassificationDefensive colony / established hive
Source Language
Incident Summary
A 20-year-old roofer was stung 50 to 75 times while removing shingles from a Costa Mesa roof. A neighbor who came to investigate was also stung. Both were hospitalized; firefighters found an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 bees in a long-established hive under the shingles.
Public-Safety Lesson
Roofing and construction work can expose hidden structural colonies. Workers and nearby residents may both be at risk when a hive is disturbed.
Impact Flags
Human FatalityNo
Human HospitalizedYes
Animal FatalityNo
Responder InvolvedYes
Source Information
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles
Source Strength: B