A faulty gasoline-powered golf cart at the Sterling Heights, Mich., property caught fire on June 12, causing an estimated $60,000 in damage when the flames spread to a cart shed. The golf course was up and running two days later, and rented carts are available.
A faulty gasoline-powered golf cart at Plum Brook Golf Club in Sterling Heights, Mich., caught fire on June 12 and burned down a cart shed, fire officials told the Clinton Township, Mich., Source.
The incident began at about 7 p.m. at the public course when the golfer using the cart noticed smoke coming from the engine. He drove it to the cart shed to exchange vehicles, Battalion Chief Mark Docherty said.
“The cart caught fire, and he had pulled it close to the building,” Docherty said. “The wind fanned the flames, and it spread to the building.”
Golf course employees grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to put the fire out, but the flames spread too quickly. The shed, which contained multiple electric chargers and could store 50 carts, quickly became engulfed in flames, Source reported.
About 15 firefighters responded but were pulled back as the walls collapsed. Fire crews had the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, according to Docherty. The structure and about four golf carts were a total loss. The fire was kept from the clubhouse, and the golf course was up and running by Tuesday, Source reported.
Golf course owner Paul Beaupre said he expected to have rented carts on the property by the end of the week. “We’ll (have) to tell some of our customers they might have to walk to get around until then,” Beaupre said. “We’ll be fine.”
Golfers finishing up their games on the 18-hole course Sunday noticed plumes of dark smoke coming from the shed and wondered what had happened, Source reported.
“We were on the 16th hole, and we saw the flames. They were just flying,” said golfer John Lewis. “We saw the smoke coming from that side of the course, so we figured it was the shed. The smoke was pretty dark.”
Extensive overhaul and cleanup kept firefighters at the scene for three hours. After extinguishing the flames, firefighters disassembled some of their equipment to allow Sterling Heights public works backhoe operator Jim Stepp and road supervisor Ken Swartz onto the grounds to remove some of the debris and allow fire crews to check for lingering hot spots, Source reported.
Damage was estimated at $60,000, Fire Chief Chris Martin said.
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