The Chelsea Area Fire Authority received mutual aid from 12 other local fire departments to knock down a garage fire on Freer Road in Lima Township on Saturday, Nov. 21.
Fire Lt. Eric Stanley said the call came in at 2:14 p.m. for fire in the 600 block of Freer Road and he could see it from Jackson and Fletcher roads while en route, so he called in mutual aid.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, the garage was 70-percent involved and there were “two additional exposures” one to a nearby home and the second to a hip-roof barn.
Tthere were about 40 firefighters on the scene from Dexter, Manchester, Scio Township, Ann Arbor Township and the City of Ann Arbor. Also assisting were firefighters from Saline, Pittsfield, Northfield, Grass Lake, Ypsilanti Township and the City of Ypsilanti.
Stanley said firefighters were on the scene for about three hours and there were no injuries.
The garage was a total loss, the roof of the barn was heavily damaged and siding on the house was melted, he said.
It’s believed the fire began in the garage but no cause has been determined.
There were about 2,500 bales of hay in the barn, he said, and he estimated that about half of it was saved.
Firefighters from several departments stayed behind and helped to unload some of the hay from the barn and load it onto hay wagons and a flat bed to help save as much as possible.
Estimated damages are unknown at this time.
They went above and beyond to help save the hay. I’m sure that extra gesture was so appreciated when they had already lost so much
I think it’s an over reaction to a garage fire to call in 10 or more fire departments How did they even fit on Freer rd. I guess if it was my house I’d be happy but really, all they way from Ypsi and Saline. What if they had a couple of fires of their own in the meantime?