7/31/15 - Onondaga pole barn fire, 3717 S. Onondaga Rd

At 3:47 PM on Friday, July 31, 2015, the Onondaga Fire Department was dispatched for a "tool trailer on fire, not near any structures" at 3717 S. Onondaga Rd. Shortly after going en route, Onondaga Engine 12-61 was updated by dispatch advising that additional calls state a barn might be involved and an upgraded structure response was requested including automatic aid from the Leslie Fire Department. On arrival, the engine crew was confronted with a large pole barn 100% involved in heavy fire. Additional mutual aid was requested from the Mason, Eaton Rapids, Eaton Rapids Township & Hamlin Township fire departments. The pole barn was under construction and not yet occupied. It is believed that while workers were applying insulation, a fire started unnoticed in their utility trailer. A strong wind from the west allowed the fire to quickly spread into the unprotected wood inside the pole barn and fed the fire causing rapid involvement. Several 55 gallon drums of product for blown-in insulation were inside the trailer, one drum BLEVE'd just before firefighters arrived. A quick attack was started using 12-61's deck gun, then hand lines were stretched to complete knocking down the main body of fire. When enough tankers arrived for supply, the aerial from Engine 12-60 was set up and used to complete extinguishment. A firefighter on the aerial spotted a small grass fire to the east of a pond behind the pole barn, so personnel were sent to access the field to put out hot spots. Tankers hauled in 56,500 gallons of water used to control the blaze. There were no injuries.