BILL WEST / Star Beacon
A FIREFIGHTER pours water on the smoking ruins of a barn Tuesday at 6436 Bushnell Road in Monroe Township.
Published March 18, 2009 01:00 am - Five area fire departments responded to a fully involved barn fire at 6436 Bushnell Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Fire destroys barn, chickens, 1917 Model T Ford, equipment
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
MONROE TOWNSHIP — Five area fire departments responded to a fully involved barn fire at 6436 Bushnell Road on Tuesday afternoon.
The smoke could be seen from as far away as the Interstate 90 and Route 193 interchange.
Dave Cole had just returned home from picking up his children at school, around 3:30 p.m.
“We pulled in our driveway, and I could see smoke pouring out of the back end of the barn. I called 911, and in 10 minutes the whole thing went up,” Cole said. “I am very thankful for the people who stopped and helped me hose down my house and get everything out of my new building.”
Cole’s house and the new outbuilding were not damaged by the fire.
The fire departments that responded to the fire were from Conneaut and Monroe, Sheffield, Plymouth and Pierpont townships.
Unfortunately, Cole’s barn, as well as its contents, was a total loss. The contents included a stored 1917 Model T Ford touring car, which belonged to Cole’s dad.
“We lost our chickens and all of my farming equipment. But no one was hurt, and that’s the main thing,” Cole said.
The barn was built in 1885, and the farm once was owned by Cole’s parents. Cole bought the farm from his mother about 20 years ago.
Assistant fire chief Jason Coy of the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department was in command at the fire scene.
Another Monroe Township firefighter said: “When we arrived, the barn was fully involved. We are pulling down the roof to get to all of the hot spots.”
No one was injured in the fire, and the cause is under investigation.
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