The April Fools’ Day Prank That Involved Hundreds of Tires and a Mysterious Destination—What Really Happened?
Ever wondered what happens when a man’s devotion to April Fools’ Day goes volcanic—literally? Meet Oliver “Porky” Bickar, a WWII veteran with a flair for the dramatic and a mischievous streak as wide as Alaska itself. One fine April Fools’, he didn’t just pull a prank; he orchestrated a spectacle by hauling hundreds of tires into a dormant volcano and lighting them up, setting the sky ablaze and convincing both locals and the Coast Guard that an eruption was underway. Talk about taking “playing with fire” to a whole new level! The Coast Guard’s surprise investigation only added fuel to the fiery joke, and before long, an entire Alaska Airlines flight got rerouted just to catch the “eruption.” Porky’s prank wasn’t just smoke and mirrors—it became an unforgettable slice of Sitka folklore that even the admiral admired. Curious how this wild stunt unfolded and why it’s still talked about today? LEARN MORE
There was a man so dedicated to April Fools’ Day that he flew hundreds of tires into a dormant volcano in Alaska and set them on fire, fooling the local public and the Coast Guard into thinking the volcano was active.
The architect of this prank was Oliver “Porky” Bickar, a World War II veteran. He had informed the FAA, fire department, and police about the prank. However, he forgot to notify the Coast Guard, which led to their genuine reaction and immediate investigation. Once informed, most residents of Sitka found the joke to be fantastic. An Alaska Airlines flight departing from Sitka was even diverted so that passengers could witness the faux eruption. Later, the admiral in charge of the Coast Guard in Alaska told Bickar that he thought the prank was brilliant.
