Two more barns burn in southern part of county [Columbiana Co, OH]

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Two more barns burn in southern part of county
Story By ERIN COLELLA from the Libbon Morning Journal on 10/3/2008.

Article Photos
Morning Journal/Erin Colella
A fireman stands atop the barn which caught fire in the early morning hours of Thursday on Oak Ridge Road off state Route 39.


WELLSVILLE - A massive firefighting effort was launched early Thursday morning to control fires that destroyed two barns outside Wellsville.

Fire departments from two states responded to the fires reported around 5 a.m. on Oak Ridge Road near state Route 39 in Yellow Creek Township and Forbes Road in Madison Township.

While en route to the Forbes Road fire, firefighters noticed flames coming from a barn owned by David Boyd, 42454 Oak Ridge Road.

The fire destroyed most of Boyd's barn and hay stockpile consisting of 1,000 bales.

Also destroyed was the Forbes Road barn owned by Dave McCoy.

The highway was closed in both directions from Highlandtown to Wellsville due to fire truck traffic and three drop tanks set up to collect imported water.

Wellsville volunteer firefighter Tim Raffa said six cows were locked in stanchions inside Boyd's barn when his department arrived. Fireman had to cut through the metal using the Jaws of Life to free the cows.

As the frightened beef cows fled the barn, "It was like a stampede," Raffa said.

One cow appeared to have suffered from severe burns, according to firefighters.

A road crew worker from Yellow Creek Township used a backhoe to help pull down portions of the barn's sides to allow firefighters to better reach the flames being fueled by the mounded bales of hay.

Roush estimated 800-1,000 bales were destroyed in the blaze.

Firefighters worked to keep the heat away from the attached silo due to grains known to explode

Roush stated that by noon about a half million gallons of water were used since the first call at 5:08 a.m.

A Glenmoor firefighter said by about 10 a.m. their department had carried 11 loads in one truck, which reportedly holds about 1,200 gallons. There were over 12 tankers performing the same work.

Boyd stood helplessly by as his historic barn burned.

"This is my pride and my joy. Why'd it have to be me? Why's it have to be anybody?" he asked, saying he was glad firefighters were able to save his livestock.

Boyd said he recalled his dad laying some of the barn's foundation block.

"I was about 3 years old," he said sadly.

Once a dairy farmer, Boyd said he sold the milk cows when his daughters finished college and had only the handful of beef cows.

The hay, however, was intended for sale, and represented a summer's worth of work for Boyd and his family.

"I won't be selling any this year," Boyd said ruefully.

Although the barn is insured, Boyd said, "It won't cover the loss. It never does."

Although Boyd said the barn is insured, he said, "It won't cover the loss. It never does."

With fire officials on scene speculating that this and the Forbes Road fire were the work of a suspected barn burner, Boyd said, "We have to catch these people. I don't know how. Maybe it would take a reward."

He said that, on the night of another suspicious fire up the road, he heard a loud vehicle go past and now wonders if it may have been the culprit.

Boyd had supper with his daughter Wednesday night and said, "I told her I think I'll sleep in the barn tonight being it's right beside the road and all."

Boyd's daughter said the farm has been in the family for 136 years this month.

Sheriff's deputies and the state fire marshal investigators found a small red gas can on Forbes Road within sight of the burned barn, collecting it as evidence.

Departments responding included Wellsville, Highlandtown, Salineville, Irondale, Liverpool Township, Glenmoor, West Point, Franklin Township, Newell, W.Va. and Chester, W.Va.

Since the fires were reported within minutes of each other, fire marshal public information officer Shane Cartmill said five investigators are looking into the possibility of arson but could not officially state the cause at this time.

Cartmill also could not speculate whether the fires occurring around Columbiana County - seven reported as of Thursday - were committed by the same person or are related to each other.

Another fire was reported on state Route 45 Thursday afternoon, but Cartmill could not officially state the structure fire was on the fire marshal's list. No other information could be given concerning the house fire on state Route 45 Thursday.

"It's something we have to immediately look at," Cartmill said. "(But) I really can't say that (the fires are the work of an arsonist) yet. I can't say they are connected at this point."

Cartmill said the office is taking the surge of fires seriously.

"There have been a total of seven fires in the past week from garages to barns to pull-behind campers," Cartmill said. "We have five investigators in the area today."

Cartmill said they will conduct a full investigation in conjunction with local law enforcement for "however long it takes.

"We'll take a look at trends and patterns," he said. "It's a joint effort."

In addition to the barn fires Thursday, Cartmill stated the office was aware of a fire in the 3,000 block of Steubenville Pike Road on Sept. 30 involving three campers.

Wellsville Fireman Doug Elliot reported three departments responded to a garage fire at 41988 Old Irondale Road around 12:18 a.m. Tuesday. The unattached garage owned by Franklin Wilson was declared a total loss.

Cartmill encouraged people with information to call 1-800-589-2728.

ecolella@mojonews.com

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State fire marshal investigating Columbiana County blazes
Story from the Youngstown Vindicator on 10/3/2008.

SALEM — The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating eight suspicious fires that have occurred in Columbiana County since Sept. 23.

Cara Keithley, a spokeswoman for the fire marshal’s office, said Friday, “It’s too early to say if they are connected.”

The fires included barns and hay, a garage, a camper and a home under construction.

The location of the fires ranged from Hanoverton to Wellsville and East Liverpool.

Keithley said, “The concern is that there is a large number of unexplained fires in close proximity in a small amount of time.”

The fire marshal’s office is seeking information from the public and encourages anyone who may know something about the fires to call the investigative unit at (800) 589-2728.

The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating.