October 9, 2004

Day-old burn reignites, destroys barn, vehicles

       Ashes from an open burn Wednesday smoldered into a blaze Thursday that destroyed a barn, six vehicles, two sheds and nearly 10 acres of pasture in White River Township.  The barn at 5593 W. Smokey Row Road and most of a 10-acre pasture containing several brush piles and about 20 abandoned vehicles was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived just after 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Bargersville Fire Department Division Chief Mike Pruitt said.  Firefighters dug up the earth, especially around brush piles, to control and stop fires.  “The barn was full of tires and car parts,” Pruitt said. “That was the hardest part to put out with all the tires.”  The property owners, Marshall and Doris Reed, were not home at the time of the fire. A neighbor called the fire department. 

         Firefighters from Bargersville, White River Township, Green Township in Morgan County, Whiteland and Franklin fire departments battled the fire.  The fire departments stayed nearly four hours to make sure the fire was out and would not rekindle.  The dryness of the area likely contributed to the severity of the fire, Pruitt said.   (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

   

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