Hudson Twp., MI – A subject was burning leaves near a bridge in the 16000 block of Beecher Road in Hudson Township when the bridge caught fire at around 3:18 PM Sunday afternoon.
The Hudson Fire Department was dispatched to the bridge, which is a wooden construction ‘Heavy Timber Bridge.’ HFD Chief Jerry Tanner says that these types of bridges are made using 8×8 or 10×10 inch post supports and crisscrossed beams with 4×10 inch side to side beams supporting the bridge decks. Tanner said that all of these timbers are similar to telephone poles in how they are treated to resist moisture and rot. He said that the creosote-soaked material does burn when exposed directly to fire.
Hudson’s first unit on scene at 3:24 PM reported that the ditches on the North side were burning and approximately 10 feet worth of the bridge construction under the road was on fire and spreading rapidly.
At 3:27 the second unit arrived and requested Lenawee County Road Commission to the scene and told them that they were closing the bridge. HFD requested mutual aid from Addison and Clayton Fire Departments. Multiple handlines were pulled from the Engine and deployed under the bridge to fight the fire which had spread under the entire bridge and across both sides of the river and into the woods.
Hudson’s grass rigs were originally working on the ditch and woods fires, but the manpower was re-deployed under the bridge to assist with fire extinguishment efforts. Additional grass rig units were requested from Jefferson Twp and Wright-Waldron Fire Departments.
At approximately 4:20 PM the fire was brought under control and was determined to be out by 4:45 PM. Mutual aid departments were released from the scene with Hudson Units remaining to keep the road closed.
Lenawee County Road Commission Bridge Inspector arrived at 5:10 PM and had the Sign crew place barricades up on both sides of the Bridge, and the proper notification signage up and down the roadway. Hudson Fire Department was back in service and clear of the call at 7:06 PM
As a result, Beecher Road between US 127 and Kiel Hwy is closed until further notice. The Damage Estimate is Undetermined at this time.
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*media courtesy of the Hudson Fire Department*