Hay trailer ignites in Chassell Township
Hay trailer ignites in Chassell Township; no injuries reported
By GARRETT NEESE, DMG Writer
CHASSELL — How hot was it on Friday?
Hot enough that of the tractor, baler and hay trailer headed to Gary Palosaari’s farm, only two made it back.
The hay in Palosaari’s trailer caught on fire Friday afternoon on U.S. Highway 41 near the Keweenaw Berry Farm in Chassell Township.
The blaze totaled the trailer, as well as 44 bales of hay, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage. Nobody was hurt in the fire.
Palosaari hypothesized that sparks from the tractor’s exhaust may have ignited the hay.
The Chassell Volunteer Fire Department was paged at 3:15 p.m. and had the fire put out within 15 to 20 minutes, said firefighter Derrick Verran.
The Michigan State Police also responded to the incident. Traffic on U.S. Highway 41 was reduced to one lane for the duration of the fire fighting effort.
Palosaari said such incidents are “very rare.”
“It’s a good way to start off the Fourth of July weekend,” he said.
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com.
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