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Pole barn involved in fire Sunday afternoon
BAINBRIDGE — Crews from multiple fire departments were able to knock down a fire involving a pole barn in Monroe Township Sunday afternoon.
A box alarm was established at about noon after a firefighter from the Roachdale Volunteer Fire Department responded for a fully involved structure at 804 W. U.S. 36. Not knowing the severity, it was all hands on deck.
With the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department assuming command overall, engines and tankers responded from Roachdale VFD, the Greencastle Fire Department and the Clinton Township, Bellmore and Russellville volunteers. Putnam County EMS and PMH Ambulance were also staged.
With a tanker from Roachdale VFD supplying water to Bainbridge VFD’s engine, hand lines were deployed for attack on the interior.
“We are firefighters; we try to keep it simple,” Bainbridge Fire Chief Kevin Thorson said, noting that his philosophy for a rural fire is to have and not need, rather than vice versa.
Just knowing that water was needed, it was determined that the fire was in the attic area. In spite of the smoke inside, firefighters gained entry and found a stairway to an office from where the attic was accessed.
Meanwhile, a hole was made near the metal roof to put water through. The crews also came together to pull out a chassis that was inside the barn as salvage took place.
“In a nutshell, it was kind of chaotic, but it’s organized chaos,” Thorson said candidly about the operation.
The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature. Ultimately, the barn is still standing with heavy fire and smoke damage, as well as the loss of its contents.
Units were being released from the scene before command was terminated at about 2:15 p.m.
Thorson remarked on the scale of the response and the teamwork involved on everyone’s part. Nonetheless, he stressed a need for more volunteers.
According to Putnam County GIS, the property is listed to Chad and Michelle Schnitz.