BREAKING: Delayed response to downed powerline causes structural blaze
With the threat of the wind blowing the flames towards surrounding houses, a firefighter moves across the scene to analyze the backside of the burning storage building on Homewild Drive.
Corrected: March 9, In the Bruening’s storage building, not only fireworks exploded, but also tires, propane canisters and a gas tank of a truck caused the building to catch fire, according to daughter Dawn Bruening.
For hours, a down powerline sat smoking on the property of Frank and Debbie Bruening. Consumer’s Energy was called as soon as the smoke from the line was spotted, but there was no response.
Around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, the smoke turned into flame and spread across the leaves on the ground to the storage outbuilding on the Bruening’s property, causing fireworks to explode, according to daughter Dawn Bruening.
Senior Calla Coleman, neighbor to the Bruenings, was drawn to the fire after she heard fireworks explode.
“My dad came in the house and said something to my mom,” Coleman said. “I grabbed my coat and boots and took off running in case someone needed my EMS Explorer training.”
Fire trucks from Unadilla, Putnam Chelsea and Dexter townships showed up with a total of five pumper trucks and a few additional vehicles.
The fire lessened around 7:30 p.m. before the fire finally was put out around 8:15 p.m..
