EPHRATA TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A Lancaster County volunteer firefighter lost his barn after a fire Thursday. Firefighters responded to the 400 block of Springville road just after 11 a.m. Thursday morning. It took 15 fire companies to help get the fire under control. "The barn was fully engulfed when we arrived," said Lincoln Fire Company Chief Randall Gockley.
Chief Gockley said a landscape service backed a vehicle into the barn and their exhaust touched the hay and ignited it.
Although no one was hurt it was a difficult fire to fight. "The property owner is Clarence Martin. Mr. Martin is a former fire chief with the Lincoln Fire Company and also we rely on him as one of our daytime drivers. He's an active firefighter," said Chief Gockley. "Had this been anybody else's property Mr. Martin would've been driving our first or second engine as he does during the day. It hurts, because he is well respected in the fire company."
Chief Gockley said a hazmat team determined there is no runoff or air quality issues for residents to be concerned about. A State Police Fire Marshal ruled the cause accidental, pending further investigation.
Reported earlier:
Fire crews are battling a 2-alarm barn fire along the 400 block of Springville Road in Ephrata Township.
Flames broke out shortly before 11:30 a.m.
Heavy smoke from the fire could be seen for many miles.
So far, no word on what sparked the fire.
