Over 1,000 boxes burn in Indian Summer fire

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.

RIVERTON TWP. — Over 1,000 boxes used for hauling apples burned in a fire at Indian Summer fruit processing plant on West Chauvez Road Friday afternoon. The fire was reported around 2 p.m. A large plume of smoke could be seen over the property.

Riverton Fire Chief Joe Cooper said he wasn’t sure exactly what started the fire. However, an active trash burning pile was located about 30 feet from the boxes. Cooper said water supply was a little bit of a challenge initially.

In addition to Riverton, Pere Marquette, Ludington, Hamlin, Scottville and Pentwater fire departments were called to assist along with the American Red Cross.

“I knew this was going to be a challenge and knew I had to get as much water on that fire as quickly as possible,” Cooper said. “Once we were able to get a constant flow of water to Ludington’s aerial truck we were able to knock it down fairly quickly.

Cooper said about 50 firefighters were on scene. While firefighters were putting water on the fire, employees of Indian Summer were scrambling to remove the unburned boxes reducing the fire load.

All fire personnel cleared the scene at 5 p.m.