FLETCHER — A large fire on Casstown-Fletcher Road in Fletcher, OH resulted in the loss of several barns on Thursday.
Firefighters from Fletcher were dispatched around 10 a.m. to 9681 Casstown-Fletcher Road on a report of a barn on fire, with two other barns nearby.
A deputy arrived on the scene minutes later and reported that the barn was “fully engulfed” and a few minutes later, reported “two barns are down and the third beginning to burn.”
Fletcher fire immediately called for mutual aide from Casstown, Christiansburg, St. Paris, and Lockington fire departments.
Windy conditions caused the fire to spread rapidly and fire units began a fight to keep a nearby home from being enveloped by the blaze.
Due to the rural location of the fire, water had to be trucked in by a relay of tankers.
Deputy Tina Waymire who was on the scene had initially reported an unknown number of livestock in the barns. She made entry into the burning building and was reportedly able to save several head of livestock. Asst. Chief Dave Fornell of the Casstown Fire Department said that all livestock in the barn were saved.
A family dog was also saved from the nearby home by firefighters.
Waymire was transported to Upper Valley Medical Center by the St. Paris Rescue Squad for treatment of smoke inhalation where she was treated and released
Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office were on the scene looking into the cause of the fire.
A track hoe was brought in move contents of the barn for firefighters to get at hot spots.
There is no damage estimate available but in addition to the loss of the buildings there were contents, including a least one tractor.
At press time, there were still fire units on the scene, extinguishing hot spots.
Courtesy of the Piqua Daily Call
