Fire destroys Madison barn

Monday, September 11, 2006

No one was injured in a Sunday morning fire that destroyed a pole barn and its contents on County Road 525 West in Madison Township.

At 8:12 a.m., county firefighters were dispatched to a working barn fire, owned by George Seketa, Greencastle. According to Madison Fire Chief Lee Price, 75 percent of the 30-feet by 40-feet barn was on fire and half of the building had fallen in upon firefighters arrival.

As firefighters worked to put the fire out, they discovered most of the fire was inside 20 round hay bales. Price said the majority of the fire was in the hay bales.

At 9:53 a.m., firefighters had the fire 90 percent out. But they were still working to contain the fire in the hay bales. Price said he was calling around to find somebody with a tractor so they could dig the hay bales out.

The fire destroyed two tractors, a bushhog, a horse trailer, and equipment for the tractors. Price said it was hard to provide a dollar estimate due to the amount of damage, but he did say it was estimated at a total loss.

An investigation pinpointed the origin of the fire at the breaker box on the northeast corner of the building. It was determined that there was a short in the breaker.

Madison firefighters were assisted on the scene by GFD, Van Bibber Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department covered Madison's station. Also on scene were the Putnam County Red Cross, Operation Life and Task Force 7 members Steve Walters and Bill Newgent.Fire destroys Madison barn

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