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Frankenmuth News

Serving Frankenmuth Since 1906

Vol. 113 No. 2 - In our 113th year!

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

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STUBBLE FIRE: The Frankenmuth Fire Department responded to a wheat field stubble fire in the 2600 block of Maple Road, just north of King Road, last Thursday afternoon, July 12. A bailer was lost in the blaze.

Straw bailer is destroyed in wheat field stubble fire

  Hot and dry weather were contributing factors for four of the fire alarms answered by the Frankenmuth Fire Department last week.

  The first call for service took place right after the FFD finished training at the station, at 8:22pm on Tuesday, July 10. Firefighters were dispatched to a small grass fire by a horse farm in the 7600 block of East Curtis Road.

  FFD Crew Leader Jeff Weiss said the occupant of the home had a small pile of brush on fire in a pit and the fire spread to adjacent grass near a horse barn.

  The fire was contained upon the FFD’s arrival. Fifteen personnel responded with several units, since the fire was reported near a building and the dry conditions. A total of 21 firefighters reported to the station.

  FFD Chief Phil Kerns reminds area residents that a burn ban remains in effect until further notice.

  Shortly before 10pm on Wednesday, July 11, the FFD responded to a large bonfire in the 8900 block of Van Cleve Road. Weiss advised that upon arrival, he requested the homeowner extinguish the contained and controlled fire without incident.

  Brush 7 and three personnel traveled to the scene.

  A few minutes later, firefighters were called to the 7000 block of South Beyer Road for an open burn.

  FFD Assistant Chief Phil Haubenstricker reported that the homeowner was burning some cardboard and was warned about the suspension of open burning.

  Engine 1 and Tender 5 went to the scene with six firefighters. A total of 23 personnel reported to the station for both incidents.

  At 4:42pm Thursday, July 12, the local department was dispatched for a 500 x 500-square foot field fire caused by a round New Holland bailer.

  Upon arrival, FFD Crew Leader Eric MacKinnon witnessed a wheat stubble field was on fire well off the roadway and that a bulldozer operated by landowner Dennis Feinauer was in the field, attempting to contain the blaze.

  Brush 7, Tender 5, Utility 6, Engine 1 and Squad 4 responded with 13 firefighters. Blumfield Township brush truck was also requested.

  Firefighters were on the scene for 90 minutes, dousing hot spots thanks to the help from the dozer and making sure the fire was thoroughly extinguished.

  The round bailing implement, owned by Weiss Centennial Farms, had a mechanical issue that ignited the field and implement on fire. The bailer was completely consumed by the blaze.

  A total of 18 FFD personnel reported and Blumfield sent two firefighters with their brush truck.

  “We will monitor the area indexes concerning the dry conditions but expect to extend the suspension of burning permits until those indexes get us out of the extreme fire danger category,” FFD Chief Phil Kerns said.

  The FFD was cleaning up following the field fire when it was called at 6:44pm to the Covenant HealthCare building, 600 North Main Street, for a possible carbon monoxide incident.

  Kerns said at least three people were in a lower level class room, waiting for class to start, and began to feel ill. For precautionary purposes, the FFD requested to check the air in the event there was a carbon monoxide issue. The detector did not record any readings.

  Engine 1 and Squad 4 reported with 10 personnel and cleared after 20 minutes.