9/11/13 - Mason grass fire & wires down, Barnes Rd & US-127

A stray lightning strike from a nearby thunderstorm hit a utility pole and caused several small grass fires on Wednesday evening, September 11, 2013. The Mason Fire Department was dispatched at 5:46 PM to respond to the grass fire. On arrival they discovered the still live power line laying across the exit ramp from southbound US-127 to Barnes Rd, as well as two sets of power lines laying across Service Rd just north of Barnes Rd. Several small grass fires were burning along the downed power line, the largest was burning an area of tall grass and brush between the exit ramp and the highway. Brush 810's position was along the south side of the power lines with the fire burning to the north. Engine 809 was on the north side so firefighters entered the tall brush on foot to stop the fire. Consumers Energy arrived on the scene quickly to deactivate the downed lines and the area was overhauled and monitored for spot fires before firefighters cleared the scene.