Wednesday Fire Burns Pole Barn

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TIFFANY SHAW Times-Union Staff Writer-

Sparks from a welding torch apparently touched off a fire which destroyed a pole barn on Julian Drive in Warsaw Wednesday morning.

A Warsaw Fire Department official said the 30-by-40-foot building, owned by Ron Shepler, was a complete loss.

Shepler told the fire department he was welding and cutting in the pole barn shortly before the fire began. Fire officials ruled the fire accidental, apparently caused by the welding work Shepler was doing.

The fire was called in at 11:03 a.m., and the building was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived.

A Warsaw firefighter said there were several cars and tools in the building at the time of the fire and nothing was able to be saved.

Firefighters spent 1-1/2 hours at the scene, but the fire was under control within minutes of their arrival.

The fire did spread to a storage shed next to the pole barn, and the shed also was destroyed.

The Warsaw Fire Department estimated the loss of the building and contents at $110,000.

Of the 15 firefighters at the fire, three were treated at the scene for minor injuries. One man hurt his back, one suffered minor heat exhaustion, and another suffered minor burns. All three were said to be fine and back at work today.

Multi-Township Emergency Medical Service assisted at the scene. [[In-content Ad]]

Sparks from a welding torch apparently touched off a fire which destroyed a pole barn on Julian Drive in Warsaw Wednesday morning.

A Warsaw Fire Department official said the 30-by-40-foot building, owned by Ron Shepler, was a complete loss.

Shepler told the fire department he was welding and cutting in the pole barn shortly before the fire began. Fire officials ruled the fire accidental, apparently caused by the welding work Shepler was doing.

The fire was called in at 11:03 a.m., and the building was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived.

A Warsaw firefighter said there were several cars and tools in the building at the time of the fire and nothing was able to be saved.

Firefighters spent 1-1/2 hours at the scene, but the fire was under control within minutes of their arrival.

The fire did spread to a storage shed next to the pole barn, and the shed also was destroyed.

The Warsaw Fire Department estimated the loss of the building and contents at $110,000.

Of the 15 firefighters at the fire, three were treated at the scene for minor injuries. One man hurt his back, one suffered minor heat exhaustion, and another suffered minor burns. All three were said to be fine and back at work today.

Multi-Township Emergency Medical Service assisted at the scene. [[In-content Ad]]

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