BRONSON, MI (WTVB) – A hoop barn was destroyed in a Sunday morning fire at 471 West Southern Road in Gilead Township which caused about $77,000 worth of damage.
A passerby reported the fire to Branch County 911 and Bronson Fire Chief Scott Wilber says his department was called to the scene just after 10:00 a.m.
The barn with about 175 round bales of hay inside was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The Lakeland and Orland Fire Departments were called in for mutual aid as each department provided tankers.
A Bronson firefighter sustained a minor laceration to the hand and over 100,000 gallons of water had to be used to put out the flames.
It’s not known how the fire got started. The passerby who reported the fire also managed to lead a horse inside of the barn to safety as there was no one home at the onset of the blaze. The caller also moved a tractor that was close to the barn to safety.The homeowners managed to remove the round bales of hay with a skid steer while a neighbor, Chuck Shimp, assisted with a excavator.
Besides the hay, Wilber says there was a trim rack, a baler and a Polaris Ranger in the barn.
Firefighters were on the scene for almost five-an-a-half hours. Lifecare Ambulance and the Michigan State Police were also sent to the scene.
