IRASBURG — A fire at Nelson Farm on Vermont Route 14 Tuesday evening damaged farm equipment but was quickly extinguished before it could spread to a nearby barn.
Irasburg Fire Department was called to the scene at approximately 7:30 p.m. after reports of a possible barn fire. Orleans Fire Department was requested to bring a tanker and additional personnel.
As crews responded, updated information revealed the fire involved a piece of heavy equipment rather than the barn itself. The fire was extinguished quickly, and Orleans Fire Department was cancelled as it arrived at the property.
Irasburg Fire Chief Robin Beaton said the fire involved a specialized pump truck used to transfer grey water from washing the barn floor into storage tanks before it’s pumped into the manure patch.
“It was a piece of equipment, but the fire was going over the roof of the barn, so they were getting nervous,” Beaton said.
Firefighters knocked down the flames as soon as water was applied. Only the equipment was damaged.
“It got out real fast as soon as we got some water going on it, and I cancelled Orleans as they were pulling in the driveway because I knew we were all set,” Beaton said.
Orleans Ambulance Service stood by at the scene as a precaution. Irasburg Fire Department cleared at 8:35 p.m.
