Fires damage and destroy buildings in southern Washington County
A fire destroyed two barns at 1715 Deerfield Road in South Franklin Township on Wednesday night.
A fire destroyed two barns at 1715 Deerfield Road in South Franklin Township on Wednesday night.
Firefighters from several departments in southern Washington County have been busy battling blazes that destroyed several buildings, including a fire Monday in South Franklin Township that destroyed two barns and damaged a house and a fire Wednesday that damaged an East Finley Township garage.
The state police fire marshal said Thursday that the cause of the fire reported about 11 a.m. Monday at the property of Catheryn L. and Bill Smith, 1750 Deerfield Ave., is undetermined but it caused $120,000 in damage.
South Franklin fire Chief Fred Hutson said the fire started in a barn that was about 100 years old and sat close to the road. Hay was kept in the upper part of the barn while sheep were housed in the lower portion. The owners were able to get the sheep out of the barn before it was destroyed by the fire, he added.
The fire then spread to a smaller, adjacent barn. The heat was so intense that it damaged the siding on the Smiths’ house, which is across the road.
Firefighters from Morris, North Franklin and South Strabane townships assisted along with Ambulance and Chair Service. Claysville firefighters were on standby for Morris.
Hutson said firefighters were called Wednesday when the fire rekindled at one of the barns started smoldering, just before they were then called to assist Morris at the East Finley fire.
Morris fire Chief Dave Dietrich said the fire marshal was also called to investigate Wednesday’s fire that destroyed a detached garage at 17 Buckeye Road. Dietrich said the property is owned by Consol Energy Inc. and leased by the Locy family. The family was not home.
Firefighters had the fire under control within 10 to 15 minutes of getting the call about 7 p.m. but stayed on the scene for about two hours. Dietrich said there was no power to the garage.
Dietrich said all-terrain vehicles and riding mowers were stored in the garage. Chickens in a coop outside the back of the garage died in the fire, he added. Hutson estimated damage to the building and contents at $50,000 to $75,000.
Firefighters from Claysville and West Finley assisted along with South Franklin.
Dietrich also reminded residents to be careful when burning leaves because of the recent dry, windy conditions. The departments in the area have responded to several brush fires in the last few days that started with people burning leaves.
West Finley fire Chief Steve Emery said his department has responded to 15 calls since Nov. 9.