Marion Township barn destroyed in fire

A crew puts out the rest of a fire that destroyed a metal post building on County Road 500 East Wednesday evening.

Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

FILLMORE -- Winds likely contributed to a fire which burned down a pole barn in Marion Township Wednesday evening.

At approximately 6:10 p.m., an alarm went out to area firefighters for a large structure fire southwest of Fillmore at 2401 S. CR 500 East.

The Greencastle Fire Department arrived at the property with an engine at 6:25 p.m. The Fillmore Community Volunteer Fire Department arrived afterward with both an engine and a tanker, as well as two rescue trucks.

The Greencastle Fire Department was one of five fire crews at the scene.

Courtesy Putnam County Sheriff's Department

The Cloverdale Township, Floyd Township and Jefferson Township fire departments then arrived with a tanker each. Putnam County EMS, as well as the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, were also at the scene.

After the fire was under control, crews performed salvage and overhaul. When the Banner Graphic arrived at the scene at approximately 8:30 p.m., firefighters were still putting out hot spots which remained.

GFD logged going back into service at 8:34 p.m., with FCVFD finally being released from the scene at approximately 9:15.

The barn was listed to Vurlin Clark, who runs a farming operation at the address.

Fillmore Fire Chief Mike Davies told to the Banner Graphic Thursday morning that the larger blaze began with a small trash fire. He believed that the wind picked up and caught nearby grass on fire, which then spread inside the barn.

Davies said that a tractor and a hay baler, as well as a season’s worth of seed beans which were to be planted, were destroyed in the fire.

The fire chief estimated total damages at $450,000. Fortunately, no one has been reported as being injured in the incident.