Hawley Crews Provided Mutual Aid at Vehicle Fire

Ashfield, MA — September 12 — The Hawley Volunteer Fire Department offered support to the Ashfield firefighters on Saturday evening during a fully involved hay trailer fire. The call came around 6:50 p.m., and Hawley Tanker 1 arrived with a crew of three.

When the firefighters arrived, they helped with fire suppression efforts and provided water supply.

The tanker delivered about 1,860 gallons of water during the incident, assisting the crews as they worked to put out the fire in the trailer and its loaded hay.

Hay and other agricultural materials can present extra difficulties during firefighting because densely packed items may retain heat and continue burning even after the visible flames have gone out.

Firefighters often need to apply enough water and carefully inspect the load to find any remaining hot spots.

This response also highlighted the significance of regional mutual aid in rural areas.

Tankers and water-carrying vehicles can offer a crucial water supply when a fire occurs away from city water systems or when more water is needed for ongoing suppression efforts.

The Hawley Volunteer Fire Department was based at 16 Plainfield Road and continued to collaborate with nearby departments through the regional mutual aid system.

The department acknowledged the agencies involved for their coordinated efforts during the September 12 incident.

No further details about injuries or the cause of the fire were released.