4/20/11 - Dansville commercial building fire, 1380-1384 E. Mason St

While returning to quarters after a 3-1/2 hour assist to Stockbridge Fire at a house fire, a Dansville Fire Department firefighter discovered heavy fire issuing from the Wooden Nickel Saloon at the main four corners in downtown Dansville. Dansville firefighters were dispatched at 3:23 AM on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, and mutual aid was requested 2 minutes later from the Mason, Williamston and Leroy Twp fire departments. Access to the fire from the front of the building was hampered by downed and arcing powerlines along the length of the building. Because of the fire's advanced stage and the pending collapse conditions, command made this an exterior attack right from the start. While master streams where set up out front, Mason's aerial was directed to respond to deploy at the back of the structure. Additional mutual aid was requested from the Leslie Fire Department, which was covering Stockbridge's station, and apparatus from Stockbridge also responded as soon as they could pick up from their fire. An additional aerial ladder was requested from the Delhi Township Fire Department to position at the front of the building. The Village's water resources were quickly depleted by the draw from several hydrants, so command requested the deployment of the Ingham County Tanker Task Force which responds tankers from each department in and bordering the east and west sides of the county. Two fill sites were utilized to keep up with the demand from the tanker shuttle, over 225,000 gallons of water was trucked in. Eventually the fire spread through all 3 storefronts which is owned by the Wooden Nickel and the entire building was destroyed. In all, 17 fire departments responded from 3 counties to confront this blaze. From Ingham County: The Dansville, Delhi Township, Leroy Township, Leslie, Mason, Meridian Township, Onondaga, Stockbridge, Williamston fire departments and Ingham County Sheriff Rescue. From Eaton County: The Benton Township, Delta Township, Eaton Rapids City, Eaton Rapids Township, Hamlin Township and Grand Ledge fire Departments. From Livingston County: The Fowlerville and Unadilla Township fire departments.