By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Fire destroyed two farm buildings in the 2800 block of North Peterson Road Friday afternoon. Firefighters were initially dispatched at 5:57 p.m. for a report of a single building on fire with a nearby utility pole on fire. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered strong winds from the south had caused the fire to spread to a barn. Wind at that time, recorded at the Mason County airport, was reported as south, 17 mph with 26 mph gusts.
The initial fire occurred in a sugar shack owned by Fred and Cathi Bates. Maple syrup makers have been boiling sap this past week. The fire then spread to a barn owned by Harold Copsey of Hamlin Township; the building had at one time been part of the Bates farm. Nobody was reported injured.
Responding fire departments included Hamlin Fire Department, Pere Marquette Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, Fountain Area Fire Department, Grant Fire Department, Scottville Fire Department, and Riverton Fire Department. Scottville and Riverton fire departments had been on scene of a fire that resulted in a fatality on East Hawley Road in Eden Township when they were eventually diverted to the Victory Township fire. See story here. Also responding were Michigan State Police, Life EMS, Great Lakes Energy, and Fountain Area Fire Department Auxiliary.
The fire attracted many on-lookers and Peterson Road had to eventually be shut down, due to vehicles causing hazards to the firefighting efforts.
As of 8:30, fire departments remained on scene.
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