Firefighters inevitably run into a lot of weird circumstances while responding to alarm calls, and this Monday morning was no different for the crew responding from the South Haven Area Emergency Services. First responders answered the unique alarm today when hay being hauled by a semi caught fire while the trucker was northbound on Interstate 196 near the Phoenix Road exit, in South Haven Township.
The trucker pulled over onto the shoulder when he saw smoke thru his rear-view mirrors. He and another trucker tried unsuccessfully to douse the flames with extinguishers from their rigs, and called the fire department.
South Haven Area Emergency Services units responded at 10:00 am, and were able to confine the fire to the front-third of the load. The cab and trailer were not damaged. Responders spent two hours off-loading the burning hay into the median.
The trucker was able to continue his trip, albeit without a good share of his load.
Authorities say that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The South Haven Police Department provided traffic control during the smoky battle.
Photos accompanying this story on Moody on the Market are courtesy of Tom Renner of South Haven.
