5/15/21 - East Lansing barn & silo fire, 4075 College Rd

At approximately 7:45 PM on Saturday, May 15, 2021, the East Lansing and Meridian Twp fire departments were dispatched to a commercial pole barn fire at the MSU Dairy Farm, 4075 College Rd. On arrival, a large pole barn was completely involved in fire with wind conditions blowing the flames toward additional barns. The burning structure was surrounded by 12 tall silos, 6 each on the B and D sides. Several of the silos were showing light smoke conditions. Truck 12 initially tried to get access to the fire from the A side to protect exposures. They were unable to get close to the involved structure but used their aerial to protect the exposures. The wind conditions prevented them from getting water on the burning structure. Truck 11 accessed the fire from the B side, pulled a preconnect for suppression and set up their aerial to get ready for use. Meridian Engine 93 set up on the B side also and stretched a 2-1/2 to the A side for fire attack and exposure protection.
The west side of the Ingham County Tanker Task Force was activated for water supply. As tankers started arriving, portable tanks were set up on the B side of the fire behind the primary apparatus. Mason Tanker 807 pumped from the porta-tanks to supply Truck 11 and Engine 93. East Lansing Truck 12 repositioned and was supplied by individual tankers. When the main barn fire was controlled and overhauled, officials from MSU's Dairy Farm were consulted and a plan was developed to wet down the smoldering material inside the silos. There were no animals inside the barn at the time of the fire.