Wood stove blamed for barn fire - News

Wind complicated firefighters' efforts at this tobacco barn fire Saturday in Pequea Township.
Flames engulf a tobacco shed along Shiprock Road in Pequea Township Saturday.
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze that destroyed a tobacco shed along Shiprock Road in Pequea Township Saturday.
Firefighters and emergency personnel tend to a fire in a tobacco shed in Pequea Township Saturday.
Firefighters rush to douse a fire in the basement of a tobacco barn in Pequea Township.
A fire marshal from the state police surveys the damage done to a tobacco shed in Pequea Township Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters in an elevated apparatus shoot water at embers left in the barn's wood frame.

By PAUL FRANZ

Willow Street

Published Nov 23, 2008 00:18

Strong winds complicated firefighters' efforts to stop a two-alarm fire that destroyed a tobacco barn in Pequea Township Saturday afternoon

"There wasn't much anybody could do," said West Willow Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Strausner. "[The wind] didn't help."

Firefighters pulled sheetmetal from the barn's roof out of the ruins. Charred remains of the barn's wood framework and concrete foundation were all that remained.

No one was injured in the fire, Strausner said.

Firefighters were called at 12:26 p.m. to the fire at 2966 Shiprock Road in Pequea Township.

Strausner said it took about an hour to get the fire under control.

Strausner said the barn's owner, Aaron Smucker, was stripping tobacco early Saturday morning.

A wood stove in the basement of the barn caused the fire.

Strausner estimated about $150,000 in property damage.

Fire companies from Refton, Willow Street and Conestoga also responded.

Paul Franz is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact him at pfranz@lnpnews.com or at 295-5063.