STOW — Chief John Benoit reports that the Stow Fire Department and mutual aid partners responded to two-alarm fire in a vacant barn on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, May 28, at approximately 3:52 p.m., the Stow Fire Department was dispatched for a reported lighting strike with smoke in the area of Kettle Plain Road. Engine 14, staffed with two on-duty, full-time firefighters, was already responding to a previous incident. Stow Ladder 2 responded and noticed smoke showing from Athens Drive. On arrival, Ladder 2 located a vacant barn fully involved with exposures.
A working fire response was requested. The barn is located down a long driveway, approximately 2,000 feet from the nearest water source, so a second-alarm was struck to get enough manpower and apparatus to maintain water supply.
In addition to challenges with access and water supply, heat and humidity on Saturday afternoon necessitated firefighters being able to rehab. The Gator from the Bolton Fire Department was also requested to assist with moving personnel, as was the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Rehab Truck.
A firefighter was treated on scene for minor injuries. There are no other reports of injuries.
There were reports of lighting strikes in the area at the time, however, the origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by the Stow Fire Department, with assistance from the District 14 Fire Investigation Team.
The Maynard, Hudson, Bolton, Lancaster, Clinton, Boxborough, Sudbury and Berlin Fire Departments provided mutual aid.