11/4/20 - Mason barn fire, 708 S. College Rd

At 11:34 PM on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Mason firefighters were called to what would become an hours long battle against a fully engulfed pole barn fire at 708 S. College Rd. The initial call dispatched the Mason, Delhi Township, and Eaton Rapids Township fire departments. Calls for additional mutual aid started almost immediately as command arrived to find a large pole barn structure and travel trailer fully involved in fire with winds driving the flames up against the neighbor's large garage. As firefighters began to attack the flames and try to protect the exposure building, smoke started pouring from the peak of the roof of the garage. The fire ate into the attic space of the large garage and firefighters worked to keep the flames in check. A defensive position was taken on the roof of the house next door to be sure the fire did not extend to that structure as well. Firefighters did not enter the buildings involved because of the compromised structural integrity. In addition to the initial 3 departments dispatched, calls went out for tankers and manpower from the Leslie, Onondaga, Eaton Rapids, Windsor Twp, Dansville, Meridian Twp, and NIESA fire departments. Once the flames were knocked down, an excavator was called in to help move debris for overhaul of the pole barn. Due to the roof collapse and weakened structure, the garage was overhauled from the exterior as much as possible. No firefighters were injured during this intense operation.