BUTLER TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – Three buildings were destroyed and numerous animals perished Monday in a major agricultural fire in northeast Branch County.
Quincy Fire Chief Michael Sherman says it appears as though the fire at 835 North Briggs Road on the Cody Drumm property was electrical in nature as it started near an electrical panel. It was reported at 5:43 am and was not under control until about 8:00 am. No injuries were reported.
Sherman says a passerby noticed the fire from quite a distance away and called 911. After the property owners were awaken by passerbys, they called the 911 center and said it as a working fire with several buildings involved. The first crew which arrived on the scene found a large hip roof barn and two large adjoining pole barns fully involved in fire.
The buildings stored several pieces of farm machinery, large amounts of hay as well as 30-40 pigs and several sheep. None of the animals were able to escape the fire. The fire was brought under control with the use of several hand lines and a ladder pipe.
A large excavator was called to the scene to remove the collapsed metal roof and expose hotshots. The machine operator broke threw the concrete floor and became stuck in an unknown underground pit until it could be removed by larger equipment.
Crews remained on the scene throughout the day extinguishing the many hot spots within the hay stacks.
There is no cost estimate of the loss at this time.
Other agencies assisting at the scene were, Branch County 911, firefighters from Litchfield, Allen, Tekonsha and Coldwater, the Branch County Sheriff’s Department, Lifecare Ambulance and the Branch County Road Commission.
(Picture courtesy Quincy Fire Department)
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