LAGRANGE BALTTLES BARN FIRE

LaGrange – A late night fire struck a barn on Route 303 in LaGrange Sunday night while the family slept.

Chief James Rader of LaGrange Fire & Rescue said that when he arrived on scene the south end of the membrane style barn was well involved. Rader had to wake the family to advise them of the fire.

Firefighters from LaGrange, Carlisle and Grafton Township fought the blaze for about an hour before getting it under control. A backhoe from the Township was used to pull hay from the structure and move it for Firefighters to extinguish out in the open.

Members of the Tompkins family worked quickly to move equipment that was stored just outside of the structure. They also lent a hand pulling fire hose while Firefighters were battling the blaze.

Along with the hay, the Tompkins family also had two tractors, a hay shredder and a skid steer stored inside of the barn.

Officials are looking at a Skid Loader as a possible starting point for the blaze. Initial damage estimates are now at $35,000.00.

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