Thursday, July 22, 1999
Fire ruins barn near Republic
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
REPUBLIC &emdash; Four fire departments were called to a fire that burned a barn to the ground and sent smoke billowing into the sky Wednesday afternoon.
The barn was adjacent to the home of Darrell and Beth Magrum and family, 5925 E. TR 8. The Magrum home did not burn, but the house's siding was damaged by heat from the barn fire, Beth Magrum said.
Republic firefighters were called to the fire first, but Clinton Township, Green Springs and Bloomville fire departments were called for mutual aid. Republic EMS was also at the scene, as was the Red Cross.
Republic Fire Chief Don Martin said Wednesday night the cause of the fire had not been determined.
"It was pretty well engulfed when we got there," Martin said. "We could see the smoke when we left Republic."
The fire was reported about 4:30 p.m. by a passerby.
Diane Schank and her husband rent the barn. She said she was at her home, saw the smoke and called to report the fire just after the passerby did.
The barn contained tractors, balers, wagons, hay and various other farm equipment, Schank said.
"We just got done baling," she said.
Schank said her husband tried to open a door to save some of the equipment inside, but the flames and heat were too much.
"I said, 'Get out. It's not worth losing your life over,' " she said. "You can replace farm machinery but you can't replace your life."
No one was injured in the fire, Martin said.