By Carol Anders Correspondent
BOURBON —‑Firefighters spent five hours on Sunday containing a fire at the Great Lakes Bison Company, three miles west of Bourbon on Gumwood Road.
The fire destroyed an 80’ x 80’ pole barn filled with approximately 50 tons of hay on the property owned by Dr. Bruce and Jennita Speicher. Each of the approximately 110 bales of hay weighed about 1,000 pounds.

Marshall County dispatchers received a call at 9:53 a.m. from someone who noticed smoke filling the air. According to Bourbon Fire Chief Lenny Berkey, firefighters were on the scene by 10:10 a.m. The owners were not at home when the fire was reported, but arrived home to find firefighters working.
 Berkey said the roof of the structure had already collapsed before firefighters arrived at the scene.
Fortunately, firefighters were able to pump water out of one of three ponds on the property to help control the blaze. Both the Bourbon and Plymouth Fire Departments had brought tankers to the scene, but would have had to get additional loads had there not been water on the property.
Berkey said, at this point, they believe the fire was due to an electrical problem.
Also lost in the fire were a number of pieces of equipment including a tractor, large mowing equipment, an ATV, pressure washers and various other tools.
Two dogs kept in six-foot runs on the side of pole barn could not be saved.
Berkey shared his gratitude to the 16 Bourbon firefighters who were able to respond to the call, as well as personnel from Plymouth and Medic 55 (multi-township EMS).
The Bourbon department had two tankers, two engines, a brush truck and a rescue truck on the scene. The Plymouth Department responded with four firefighters manning two tankers and two additional EMS.
Berkey said, “We have the greatest firefighters in the world. They are well trained.”
It was necessary to call in an excavator service to spread the hay around. Tom Lenker of Lenker Services arrived just prior to 12:30 p.m. with the heavy duty equipment.
Bourbon firefighter Michael Long said, “It would have taken a very long time to put out a fire that deep in hay.”