FPS staff report
January 25, 2012
 A quick response saved a family from losing their home Wednesday morning.
Firefighters were called to 3035 Bergholz Rd., Mechanicstown, at 5:06 a.m. for a barn on fire. According to Fred Barnett, chief of Fox Twp. Fire Dept., John Beckley, an employee of the Ohio Department of Transportation, was on road patrol heading toward Salineville on SR 39. After turning around, he saw a fire at the back of the barn and thought at first it was a wood burning stove. Upon closer inspection, he realized the barn was on fire. Beckley immediately reported the fire.
Fox Twp. arrived on scene in less than 10 minutes and began fighting the fire from both ends of the barn. The home of Ivan Shetler sits just feet from the barn. Barnett said, "We held the fire until mutual aid arrived. Plastic toys in the yard between the barn and home were melted and the side window broke out of the home." An enclosed trailer parked beside the barn was damaged and the tires melted off the right side.
According to Barnett, the family lost five horses, a pony and colt, six pigs and two litters, two goats and six chickens. A machine driven ice cream maker, valued at $10,000, was stored in the barn and was destroyed.
Barnett, who grew up in Mechanicstown, said he always remembers the 34x60' timber frame barn sitting on the knoll. Offering mutual aid to Fox Twp. FD was Augusta, Bergholz, Carroll County, Carrollton, Hanover Twp. and Salineville fire departments. A total of 37 firefighters were on scene, some remained at 10 a.m.
The State Fire Marshal's office has been called and the cause is undetermined at this time. The barn was insured. There was electric service to the building. |
