BY Shirley Hatch, Branford News Publisher

Several Suwannee County fire units answered the call in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Jan. 7 to a freight liner loaded with hay bales. The fire was on CR 49, O’Brien.



Brian Lumbert from Ranchette sub-station #63 was the first fireman to arrive, with Booty Terry and Jake Brooks from Ranchette Station #43 not far behind. Also responding was County Fire.

According to a report issued by County Fire, when the first fireman arrived a flatbed semi trailer loaded with round bales of hay was fully engulfed with fire and appeared to be a total loss. The last fire units left the scene at approximately 10:40 Wednesday morning, after spending more than four hours, with the fire and cleanup.



According to the fire report the flatbed and hay belonged to Guy Cooper of Cooper Farms whose address was listed as 18492 61st St. McAlpin. The report showed $10,000 loss to vehicle and $1650 to contents. Cause of fire is under investigation, but mechanical failure contributed to the cause.



Fire units in the county responded on December 29 to a mobile home fire at 17611 25th Road, Live Oak. The dwelling owned by Doris Moseley sustained damages at $8,000 with $5,000 to the contents. The Neil Howard family occupied the mobile home.



According to a report released by county fire, when fire fighters arrived they found the single wide mobile home approximately fifty percent involved.



Personnel forced entry through the back door to contain and extinguish the blaze. Entire extinguishment consumed an estimated 2000 gallons of water delivered by four engines and two super tankers. After the fire was under control the units on scene requested the Florida State Fire marshals office to investigate the fire.



Those responding other than County Fire was Booty Terry, Brian Lumbert, Terry Burgess, Jake Brooks and Billy Martin from stations #43 and #63. Wellborn fire department also responded.