Gil Dubay was backing up his industrial mower outside of Collinsville Savings Society Sunday afternoon when something went wrong.
"I backed up and smelled something burning," he said. "I looked back and there was flames."
Dubay, of Dubay and Sons, initially tried to get the mower going so he could move it and swatted at the fire with his shirt. It didn't take him long to realize it was out of control. He decided to "let it go — not too much I could do about it."
Dubay said he had a fire extinguisher but didn't have much luck with it. People he knew ended up stopping by the bank on Route 44 in Canton and called the town's emergency dispatchers.
Deputy Fire Chief Craig Robbins said members of the town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department extinguished the blaze in about 5 minutes. The call came in shortly before 2 p.m.
The fire damaged an overhang on the side of the bank building and broke a window on the second floor. It also singed some of bricks.
Firefighters believed there was some smoke damage but no fire damage inside the building but fire marshal Adam Libros was on scene at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday to investigate further.
Dubay said the fire is definitely a blow to his business as the mower cost him $12,000 about eight years ago. He said insurance in the state is too expensive to carry.
