A backfiring lawnmower caused a machine shed to go up in flames Friday afternoon just east of Forestville.  The Southern Door Fire Department was on the scene at 7207 County J shortly after 3:30 pm Friday.  Assistant Fire Chief Randy Massart says the fire started from a lawnmower that backfired and ignited a grassfire that spread into the 30 x 40-foot shed and caused several gas cans to explode causing major damage to a tractor inside.  Fortunately, no one was injured and a good number of volunteer firefighters were able to get to the location quickly.

The quick action to extinguish the fire prevented the blaze from spreading to a nearby home and barn.  The Southern Door Fire Department was on the scene for approximately 45 minutes with assistance from the Brussels-Union-Gardner and Algoma fire departments.