Quick thinking, response averts major fire in Plato

A quick response and quick thinking were the keys to averting a major fire in Plato Saturday night.
Plato Fire Chief Jay Wood said his department was dispatched at 9:59 p.m. to Stockman Transfer, a trucking company in Plato.
Wood said an employee of the company, who also is a member of the Glencoe Fire Department, was dropping off a rig and noticed that a semi tractor inside the building was on fire.
“He called 9-1-1 and managed to get four other tractors out of the building,” said Wood.
Wood said that a security camera at the building showed that the Plato Fire Department had water on the fire at 10:06 p.m., seven minutes after the initial 9-1-1 call.
“That was crucial,” said Wood. The quick response kept the fire from spreading to the building, although some insulation in the ceiling rafters was scorched. Wood said firefighters removed some of the insulation to make sure the fire had not spread.
“We had nearly all our guys there, which was great for a Saturday night at 10 p.m.,” said Wood. “And we had automatic mutual aid from Glencoe.”

For more, see the Feb. 17 print edition of The Chronicle.