CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Fire Department on Tuesday extinguished an excavator fire in a secluded part of the lime quarry.

 

Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said crews were dispatched at 11:37 a.m. to the lime quarry off Lanesborough Road to extinguish an excavator that was fully engulfed in flames.

 

"When we got there crews found a heavily involved excavator on fire next to a brush fire that was also burning," he said.

 

Francesconi said the fire was caused by a stray piece of ash from a permitted burn.

 

"They were clearing some land and they were burning some brush. Some ash from the brush pile went into the cab and caught it on fire," he said. "The fire eventually lead to the fuel filter and ended up melting it. When the fuel filter let go, the fire was repeatedly fueled by diesel fuel." 

 

Francesconi said the operator was able to safely exit the vehicle. 

 

He said they extinguished the fire quickly with foam and water. The excavator is a total loss.

 

With the dry conditions and lack of hydrants in the area, Francesconi said they called upon the    Lanesborough Fire Department's tanker for mutual aid.

 

"There are no hydrants in the area at all. We have to bring all of the water with us," he said. "So we called for a tanker just in case it spread to the woods."

 

Although the tanker was not needed, Francesconi said he was happy to have it on hand. He said the fire could have quickly gotten out of control and spread.

 

"Both Lanesborough and Cheshire did a great job," he said.