January 17, 2006

Barn blaze kills horse, litter of puppies

       A heat lamp next to a litter of puppies likely started a fire that burned a Bargersville barn to the ground.  Smoke from the blaze could be seen from 10 miles away, and firefighters worked on the fire for about two hours, said Mike Pruitt, spokesman for the Bargersville Fire Department.  The barn, located at 921 S. County Road 600W, caught fire at 7:39 a.m. Sunday.  Owner Lydle Barnett lost 150 bales of hay, three tractors, a horse and the litter of puppies in the fire, Pruitt said.

         Firefighters' most important task was to be sure the fire did not ignite any other buildings in the area, such as Barnett's home, which was about 200 feet away, Pruitt said.  An older barn with hay and straw stored inside doesn't take long to ignite and often is very difficult to save, he said.  The barn was used for storage and shelter for livestock.  An estimate of damage was not available.  Firefighters from Trafalgar and White River Township Fire Departments also helped with the fire, Pruitt said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)
 
  

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