Winds fuel field fire on Tophith Road
Area firefighters from six departments battled a large field fire Saturday, March 13, along Tophith Road, between Parks and Leeke roads, south of Stockbridge.
The blaze destroyed more than 30 acres, according to Stockbridge Fire Chief Russ Stowe. No buildings were damaged and no one was injured.
Firefighters from Stockbridge, Henrietta Township, Leslie, Chelsea and Dansville were called to the scene at 3:23 p.m. Saturday. The Department of Natural Resources also sent personnel.
A crew of 15 needed almost four hours before the fire was brought under control at 7:13 p.m. The wind, with gusts estimated at 20 to 25 mph, created difficult conditions for fighting the field fire, the chief said.
Stowe said the fire was accidental and started on private property. It was not an illegal burn, he said.
The flames spread quickly and traveled east along Tophith Road before entering federal land in the Malan Waterfowl Production Area. The Malan WPA was acquired in September 2006 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve wetlands and grasslands for waterfowl and other wildlife.
Most of the damaged acreage was on the federal land, Stowe said.
Stowe also said burning permits will not be issued until current weather conditions improve and the area receives a significant amount of rain.
A brush fire jumps its boundaries into the Malan Waterfowl Protection Area, on a windy March 13, racing down Tophith Road to the east. Photo credits: Joan Tucker
The fire continues to burn across the Tucker residence toward a neighbor’s ajoining property at an alarming speed. Photo credit: Jeff Tucker
Tom Tucker Sr. signals a Henrietta Township firetruck in time to to extinguish a neighbor’s barn. Photo credit: Joan Tucker
A Henrietta Township firetruck supplies water to Ingham County Dansville brush truck. Photo credit: Joan Tucker
The Chelsea Fire Department assists with putting out hot spots. Photo credit: Joan Tucker
DNR Tom Tucker, Jr. called in to assist with fire management and assessment. The DNR estimates 38 acres burned. Photo credit: Joan Tucker
