Fire destroys metal barn in Augusta Township
Editor's note: The location of the fire has been corrected in this article.
An Augusta Township barn filled with construction equipment, multiple tractors and other vehicles was destroyed after it caught fire at about 9 p.m. Thursday.
The metal barn was located at 9405 Macey Road and multiple fire departments responded to the blaze.
“It was huge," said Asst. Chief David Music of the Augusta Charter Township Fire Department. "There were multiple explosions. There were propane cylinders just outside the building."
In addition to those cylinders, Music said there was a full 300-gallon diesel fuel tank sitting about 10 feet from the building that the firefighters had to protect from the fire.
Music said there were around 35 firefighters and three fire engines at the scene from Augusta, Sumpter, and Pittsfield Townships. The fire was under control by 12:24 a.m.
Despite the extensive property damages, Music said there were no injuries and the barn was far enough from the house that the fire didn't spread.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Michigan State Police Department and is undetermined at this time.
Kody Klein is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at kklein@mlive.com
Comments
Kulty
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.
The explosions had nothing to do with the propane tanks that were empty and not even effected. There were none inside the barn. The items that were probably exploding were tires and I'm sure fuel that was inside all of the equipment. Also, the address given is wrong, That would be on the south side of the road. The fire was on the north side.
Kody Klein
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
I talked to Asst. Chief David Music of the Augusta Township Fire Department again. He confirmed that the posted address was incorrect. The initial report said 9388 Macey Road because that's where the call came from. It has since been corrected to 9405 Macey Road. As to the propane tanks, he said he doesn't know definitively that they're what caused the explosions. No one was hurt, so it didn't warrant intense investigation. But he said, "There was nothing else we saw that could have made the explosion" other than the propane tanks, some of which were in fact inside of the barn. He said that though the vehicle fuel ignited, there was no indication that the tanks had exploded. As to the tires, he said that tires can "pop" in situations like this, but that the explosions they witnessed were much louder than the tires could have created. Moreover, Music said a propane tank is "never empty." Thank you for your help in the reporting process.
Kody Klein
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:12 p.m.
Thank you for that information. We will verify the information we received and report back.
Ann English
Sun, Feb 10, 2013 : 12:56 a.m.
The article yesterday about the Waterloo Township barn fire said that THAT fire was so hot, it melted siding on the farmhouse. I don't know if house siding could be made from one, a few, or many materials, I just know that aluminum can be used for siding.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 11:43 a.m.
I swear some people just can't read. IT SAID FIRE DESTROYS METAL BARN.It said nothing about the metal burning that I read.
Linda Peck
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 8:37 p.m.
Did the metal melt from the heat of the propane explosions? How does metal burn?
Befuddled
Sat, Feb 9, 2013 : 1:16 a.m.
as in a car fire, the equipment has fuel and other combustable materials.
An Arborigine
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 8:30 p.m.
Metal that burns? Was is Magnesium?
Lewis
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 4:33 p.m.
The barn was sheet metal. At high temps sheet metal, gets weak. Which is good being that we were able to take pike poles and tear it down.
Kody Klein
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 8:43 p.m.
The metal itself did not burn. The contents of the barn burned, especially the rubber and the fuel. Also, the barn's framework was made of wood.
justcurious
Fri, Feb 8, 2013 : 6:46 p.m.
I'm glad no persons or animals were hurt in this. It seems that there have been many fires lately. I hope their insurance will cover their losses and the cause can be determined.