Local firefighters put out grass fire, protect trees in Hancock

By Michele Bourdieu

A cloud of smoke rises along US-41 in Hancock, near Pat's IGA, after the first tall flames of a grass fire were extinguished by the Hancock Fire Department's deluge gun, or water cannon. Fire fighters from this Quincy, Franklin and Hancock Townships Fire Department truck join the effort, using their hand hoses to put out the rest of the fire, which occurred about 4:15 p.m. Friday, Apr. 17. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Two volunteer fire departments quickly stopped a grass fire from spreading to tall trees along US-41 (North Lincoln Ave.) in Hancock Friday afternoon, Apr. 17. Local police were on the scene for safety and traffic control.

Hancock volunteer firefighter Mark Dennis said they received the call about 4:15 p.m. on Friday, and it took them about three or four minutes to reach the scene. Firefighters from the joint Quincy, Franklin and Hancock Townships Fire Department joined them in putting out the fire.

Hancock and local township firefighters put out a grass fire on US-41 (North Lincoln Drive) in Hancock on Friday afternoon, April 17. A total of five fire trucks participated in putting out the fire and preventing it from spreading to nearby trees. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Hancock's fire trucks have a deluge gun, like a water cannon, that sprays a lot of water at a time -- 1000 gallons of water a minute, Dennis explained.

"After the deluge gun knocked it down, the rest of the hand lines (hoses) from the other trucks mopped it up," he said.

Firefighters hose down the grass fire to keep it from spreading to nearby trees. Hancock firefighters confirmed power lines (seen here near the trees) at the site were not involved in the fire.

Asked if the power lines at the site had anything to do with the fire, Dennis replied that no electrical wires were involved at all. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Dennis added later that the fire burned a few of the tall pine trees at the bottom, but not at the top of the trees.

A police officer controls traffic on US-41 in Hancock as firefighters extinguish the last of the grass fire. Traffic coming from the north was stopped briefly during the operation.

Dennis said Hancock and Houghton Police departments, Houghton County Sheriff's officers and Michigan State Police were also on the scene to assist with safety and traffic control.