Barns destroyed in fire

Personnel from the Constantine Fire Department responded to a reported barn fire Monday in Constantine Township.

Chief Mike Haydon said personnel were alerted around 1:45 p.m. to a barn in the 62000 block of U.S. 131.

The fire was reported to Central Dispatch. By the time fire crews arrived, three barns were fully ablaze, Haydon said.

Approximately 30 firefighters from six departments were on scene for nearly five hours. Haydon said firefighters were hampered by high winds and the amount of hay inside the barns.

All three barns are considered a total loss, he said. An excavator was brought in to help remove the metal roofing and to pull apart the hay so it could be extinguished.

U.S. 131 was shut down and traffic rerouted. Cause of the fire is not known, Haydon said, noting that one firefighter was treated and released at the scene for minor injuries.