Brandon Twp.-Even after more than 30 years as a firefighter, former Brandon Fire Chief James Frantz says you just can’t be too cautious with fire.
After serving as chief from 1974-1996 he’s seen and fought thousands of fires, but the blaze that started late in the afternoon of April 19 was just a little too close to home.
‘I’m not exempt from fire, it’s really unpredictable,? said Frantz, 67. Fire goes its own way. I’ve fought a lot of fires in my day’but I’ve never seen a fire go up like this.?
After obtaining a fire permit, clearing the proper area around the pile of brush and keeping watch over the planned blaze, Frantz stepped away for just a few minutes to have a glass of iced tea with his grand daughter.
‘Then ‘boom,?? said Frantz. ‘I ran back to the fire site and the property was on fire so we called the fire department.?
A Brandon fire official said dry conditions, gusty winds coupled with an unattended fire caused a grass fire which ignited a nearby pole barn next-door to Frantz’s Bald Eagle Lake Road home at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
‘The resident had a burning permit, a spot cleared out and just left the fire unattended for about 10 or 15 minutes,? said Bob McArthur Brandon fire chief. ‘And that’s all it took.?
The blaze destroyed a neighbor’s pole barn and took firefighters about 30 minutes to get under control. Two firefighters from Brandon were sent to Genesys Regional Medical Center with heat exhaustion. A third firefighter received injuries after coming in contact with an overhead TV-cable charged with electrical current. All were released after treatment.
McArthur says the proximity of other homes and buildings caused additional concerns for firefighters.
‘This fire would not have occurred if the resident had been there with a rake and water,? added McArthur. Staying with the fire and following all the rules provided’this is so typical.?
Fire departments from Groveland, Hadley and Independence assisted.
‘All I can say is, I’m sorry,? said Frantz, reminding residents to stay with their fires. I have never seen a structure go up that fast.?