Mapleton shed fire destroys farm tractors, equipment
Malfunction while charging battery-operated toy suspected of starting fire
MAPLETON – An 80- by 40-foot shed containing farm tractors, vehicles and equipment was destroyed in an Aug. 19 fire believed to have started from a charging lithium-ion battery.
Volunteer firefighters from Wellington North, Mapleton, Minto and Centre Wellington responded to a Highway 6 property in Mapleton, just outside Arthur, at around 8pm on Wednesday.
A multi-station response is standard for larger structure fires, but with a new response agreement between Wellington’s three northern municipalities, stations in Arthur, Drayton and Moorefield attended because they were closest, said Tri Fire Services director Chris Harrow.
Tri Fire Services is a partnership between the Wellington North, Mapleton and Minto fire departments.
Previously, Wellington North would have gotten the call, according to Harrow, with Mount Forest having to travel out of the way to back up Arthur.
Robin George
Around 30 volunteers from Arthur, Drayton and Moorefield stations responded, and Centre Wellington was also called in to provide water tanker truck support.
Crews arrived to find a shed totally consumed by flames, according to Harrow.
“We just surround it and contain the fire and make sure that no exposures catch fire,” he said.
Nobody was hurt in the blaze.
A damage estimate, complicated by farm equipment appraisals, was not available as of Aug. 20.
Harrow said fire officials will “never find the exact cause” due to the extent of the fire, but he suspects a charging issue with a lithium ion battery.
He noted a charging drivable toy car was the only thing plugged in inside the shed.
“It’s definitely accidental, and that’s what we’re guessing the cause to be,” Harrow said.
An excavator was brought in to gain access to hotspots beneath collapsed steel.
Fire crews cleared the scene at around 10:30pm on Wednesday.
