By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Bill</a>
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
ROYALTON
October 15, 2008 02:30 am
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An abandoned barn and two smaller structures were destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon on Rochester Road, causing Route 31 to be closed for five hours.
The fire started about noon on 9435 Rochester Road. Responding to the blaze were 15 emergency vehicles from Middleport, Barker, Gasport, Terry’s Corners, Hartland, Shelby and Wolcottsville and Tri-Town Ambulance and Niagara County Emergency Services.
The property owner is Gary McCollum of Gasport who surveyed the damage briefly, but could not estimate the damage. “We don’t know anything, really.”
Only two silos were standing as volunteer firefighters brought the blaze under control. A handful of volunteer firefighters climbed to the top of the structural skeleton, while others continued to soak the area.
One firefighter was taken by ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for a knee injury and released.
During the fire, traffic, including school buses, was rerouted on Peet Road
“It was unoccupied for quite a few years,” Middleport Fire captain George Homesberger said of the barn. “It was fully involved when we got here. We had a real big grass fire, too.”
Homesberger was called from work in Gasport about 12:20 p.m. “We just got hot spots,” Homesberger said at 3 p.m. “It’s under control. It’s a total loss. We’re going to be here awhile.”
The road was reopened about 5:30 p.m.
The firefighters used portable ponds to get water on the fire. “We don’t have any hydrants nearby so we’re doing a tanker shuffle,” Homesberger explained. “The tankers dump the water in there and the pumpers pump it to us.”
The road was closed road in order to get tankers in.
The Niagara County Arson Task Force is investigating.
The fire was ringed by a cornfield, and an abandoned house stood less than 100 yards away.
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Firefighters from seven volunteer fire companies fought a blaze on Rochester Road between Peet and Griswold Roads on Tuesday afternoon. The barn and two side buildings were destroyed. Route 31 was closed for about five hours.