FIRE DESTROYS 76-YEAR-OLD BARN

Rosemary Nussbaum from Fruitland pumped water into a holding tank during the blaze. Nussbaum was passing by on Highway 25 and stopped to help firefighters.

GORDONVILLE -- An early afternoon fire destroyed one of the area's old structures Saturday.

Twenty firemen from Gordonville and Delta battled the blaze which engulfed a two-story, 76-year-old barn alongside Highway 25, on the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Wessel, about two miles south of Gordonville, for more than two hours.

"But, we lost it," said Gordonville Fire Chief Patrick Jett.

The two volunteer fire departments had a total of three pumpers and four tankers on the scene.

"We almost had the fire under control when we ran out of water," said Jett. "That's one of the hazards for rural fire departments."

While firemen were waiting for additional water, a small explosion in the barn kindled the blaze further.

"There was an old truck in the barn," said Jett. "We don't know whether the vehicle's gasoline tank exploded, or whether there may have been another container with flamable material in it."

Cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but the blaze was believed to have started in the pump shed of the barn.

The old barn was built in 1921, said Sophie Wessel.

"There wasn't much in the barn -- some hay, an old pickup truck, some fire wood and some old horse collars," said Mrs. Wessel, who said she received word of the fire between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

"We had eaten lunch," she said. "I was in the dining room quilting, when a neighbor called to say the barn was on fire.'

Gordonville firemen responded to the fire about 1 p.m.. "The barn was an old style barn, very dry and all wood," said Jett. "It went in a hurry."

"We were about 10 minutes from having another tanker of water when we ran out," said Jett. "Two of our tankers were being filled back at the firehouse."

The other tankers would already have been filled and ready during the summer, said Jett. "But, during the winter they would freeze so we leave them empty."

That situation will be remedied this summer.

"We're in the process of building another firehouse, about four miles out of Gordonville," said Jett. "This will enable us to have eight vehicles ready, with four bays in each facility."

The new facility will be located on Route F, near the Tilsit area.