Fire engulfs truck next to home on Bak Road in Van Buren Township

By Diane Madigan
Independent Special Writer
When Van Buren Township South Duty Crew fire fighters David Schuler, Elizabeth McCormick and Bruce VanGemert responded to a fire call at 16150 Bak Road just after 6 p.m. on Thursday they found a truck in the yard engulfed in flames.
And, there were multiple explosions.
Fire fighters said they had seen the flames shooting up in the air from the fire hall at Sumpter and Hull roads.
They extinguished the truck fire. There was no damage to the home.
Van Buren Township Fire Chief Dan Besson said the fire appears to have started with a short in an extension cord leading to a battery charger.
Chief Besson said three members of the South Duty Crew arrived, instead of the usual two, with Engine 1 because the call came at shift change.
Engine 4, carrying the North Duty Crew, was also on the way to the fire, but was cancelled enroute by the South Duty Crew, Besson said.
Responding with Engine 4 were: Captain Ken Floro, Firefighter Mike Moening, and Probationary Fire Fighter Keeton doing in-service training.
The fire was called in to dispatch at 5:59 p.m. The South Duty Crew was enroute at 6:02 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 6:05. Firefighters cleared the scene at 7:05 p.m.