goingon



Butler Township Fire Kills Animals, Destroys Barns
By: Mike Stiles - Wednesday, April 27, 2022

(BUTLER TOWNSHIP) – A fire Monday destroyed three barns and killed several farm animals in Branch County's Butler Township.

Quincy Fire Chief Michael Sherman says his department was called out to 835 North Briggs Road at 5:43 AM Monday for multiple barn fires, which were called in by passing motorists, who also woke up the property owner Cody Drumm.

Firefighters arrived and found three barns on fire, which stored several pieces of farm machinery along with 30 to 40 pigs and sheep. The Coldwater, Tekonsha, Allen and Litchfield Fire Departments provided mutual aid and the fires were eventually put out. None of the animals survived.

A large excavator was called to the scene to remove the collapsed metal roof of one of the barns and expose hotshots. The machine operator broke threw the concrete floor and became stuck in an unknown underground pit until it could be removed by larger equipment.

Crews remained on the scene throughout the day extinguishing the many hotspots within the hay stacks.

The exact cause of the fire is undetermined but after investigating the area with the Coldwater Fire Marshal, it appears as though it was electrical in nature, starting near the electrical panel. Damage estimates have not been released.

Also assisting at the scene were the Branch County Sheriff's Department, Lifecare Ambulance and the Branch County Road Commission.



MORE HEADLINES

>> News Archive