Today's Buffalo News reports on a very scary, death-defying experience had by Gary McCollum, patriarch of McCollum Farms. I'm glad that Gary is safe. He's a good neighbor and one of Gasport's very best citizens. Here's the story:
A farmer narrowly escaped his burning tractor Friday morning after he inadvertently knocked down a live electrical line, which came to rest atop the vehicle, officials said.
Sheriff’s deputies said that Gary McCollum, 72, of Gasport, called just before 8:30 a. m. to report being trapped in his $100,000 Cat tractor in a field on Hartland Road, just south of Champman Road.
He was advised to remain inside the vehicle due to the danger from the live wire, and crews were sent to the scene.
Upon arrival, they found a fire burning beneath the tractor, but were unable to douse it with extinguishers.
At that point, with the cab of the tractor filling with smoke, McCollum jumped safely from the vehicle, after which it erupted into flames.
Crews from the Hartland Volunteer and Gasport Chemical Hose fire companies were able to put out the fire, but not before the tractor and a $20,000 disc tiller were damaged. No one was hurt in the incident.
Source:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article536812.ece
A farmer narrowly escaped his burning tractor Friday morning after he inadvertently knocked down a live electrical line, which came to rest atop the vehicle, officials said.
Sheriff’s deputies said that Gary McCollum, 72, of Gasport, called just before 8:30 a. m. to report being trapped in his $100,000 Cat tractor in a field on Hartland Road, just south of Champman Road.
He was advised to remain inside the vehicle due to the danger from the live wire, and crews were sent to the scene.
Upon arrival, they found a fire burning beneath the tractor, but were unable to douse it with extinguishers.
At that point, with the cab of the tractor filling with smoke, McCollum jumped safely from the vehicle, after which it erupted into flames.
Crews from the Hartland Volunteer and Gasport Chemical Hose fire companies were able to put out the fire, but not before the tractor and a $20,000 disc tiller were damaged. No one was hurt in the incident.
Source:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article536812.ece
