Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Twenty-five firefighters from three stations responded to a fully involved barn fire around 5:20 a.m. Tuesday.
Greater Napanee Emergency Services (GNES) deputy-chief Bill Hammond was one of the first responders at the scene on County Rd. 2 near Barker Side Road.
He said the barn had collapsed upon itself at that time and heavy winds out of the northwest blew radiant heat and smoke to a garage to the east within six minutes of arrival. Shortly, thereafter, a tractor-trailer truck parked near the barn also caught fire.
“We had three different fires burning at the same time,” Hammond said.
Crews to the east of the blaze worked to suppress the fire on the truck to save a trailer full of powdered concrete mix. Crews to the west suppressed the blaze while protecting a nearby vehicle.
“We were there about five hours and we had it under control in about three,” Hammond said. “Due to the extreme cold temperature and high winds, some freezing of equipment hindered our progress.”
After the fire was under control, firefighters worked to put out hot spots and remove debris.
Relying on witness statements and mindful of wind conditions, GNES determined the fire was electrical in nature. Winds had shifted the barn over time, pulling it away from its power mast and loosening the wire connection. The location of origin was near the power connection.
Hammond said damages to the barn, the garage, vehicles inside the garage and the cab of the truck.
No injuries or loss of animal or human life were reported. A number of horses were able to escape the barn. There was an electric fence that would keep them in their paddock, but it became deactivated with a loss of power, Hammond said. The horses were able to move to another paddock away from the flames.