TOM KNAPP | Staff WriterA two alarm fire Friday destroyed a barn in East Hempfield Township, fire officials said.
The fire was reported at 9:49 a.m. at the Kettering farm at 1316 South Colebrook Road south of Landisville Road. According to dispatches on Lancaster County-Wide Radio, flames were visible through the roof. Heavy smoke could be seen from a distance.
The second alarm was called right away, Hempfield Fire Company Capt. Doug Howard said.
Firefighters believe a malfunctioning furnace or waste oil burner malfunctioned, sparking the blaze. As fireghters battled it from outside, the fire weakened the roof supports, and the roof collapsed.
No one was inside at the time, and there were no injuries, Howard said.
After the fire was brought under control, firefighters spent several hours dousing hot spots, remaining on the scene until mid-afternoon.
Howard said the structure was essentially a total loss, but he was not sure about the contents. He did not have a damage estimate available. The building was insured, he said.
The barn was used to store “tractors and gasoline,” according to a radio dispatch. There was no livestock, Howard said.
A hazmat team responded and was able to contain the fuel that leaked during the fire, he said.
East Petersburg, Manheim, Lititz, West Hempfield, Rohrerstown, Hempfield, Maytown, Mount Joy, Mountville, Neffsville, Penryn, Rheems, Brunnerville, Blue Rock and Mastersonville fire companies were among the stations responding.
LNP staff writer Tim Stuhldreher contributed to this report.
