By Karen Blackledge
WASHINGTONVILLE — Curious Holsteins milled around fire trucks as firefighters from 16 Valley companies battled a blaze that destroyed a barn and woodshop Thursday morning in Montour County.
A number of the 40 head of cattle, draft horses and colts were loose, then rescued, as the fire raged, according to firefighters working at the scene off Strawberry Ridge Road in Derry Township.
Those animals that weren’t loose — such as the horses hitched to a farm implement not far from the two-story barn — became increasingly agitated as the flames, smoke and sparks engulfed the 150-foot by 100-foot structure.
Fire companies from Columbia, Montour and Northumberland counties were summoned to the 9:33 a.m. blaze that began after fierce wind carried embers from the burning woodworking shop to the barn.
Cats and chickens died in the fire, but members of the Amish community and firefighters rescued many young cows and work horses.
Woodshop owner John Z. Stoltzfus said he believes an overheated woodburner started the blaze.
“I was trying to operate the shop,” he said of the 20- to 25-year-old building that hadn’t been in operation for some time.
He had left the one-story building for about 30 minutes before the fire broke out.
“I saw the smoke,” he said. “The stove got too hot.”
As firefighters had his woodshop blaze nearly under control, someone yelled that the barn, more than 100 yards away, had caught fire.
Hay and straw fed the barn fire’s flames, and fire chiefs ordered volunteers out of the building.
Numerous tankers lined Strawberry Ridge Road, along with portable water tanks. The closest refill locations were Montour PPL Plant hydrants.
“We’re talking a mile or two away,” Valley Township Fire Chief Mike Kull said. “They have to fill up with water, drive back and pump it into the portable tanks.”
Word of the blaze spread quickly, drawing numerous neighbors by horse and buggy.
Neighbor John M. Stoltzfus, who isn’t related to the family, was among those neighbors arriving by horse and buggy.
He saw smoke coming from the frame wood shop, which was about 60 feet by 20 feet.
“I just live over the hills here,” he said.
Firefighters saved the two-story white frame house, which is close to the barn, by dousing it with foam and water, Kull said.
Plastic on greenhouses near the barn was also burned. Fire officials believed nothing was in the greenhouses.
Some chickens were removed from the barn, said Jim Roberts, Washingtonville Fire Company assistant chief. Asked how many chickens were inside, he said, “Enough for the family.”
John Z. Stoltzfus’ son-in-law David owns the barn. He, his wife Anna and their 10 children live in the house, said John Z. Stoltzfus, who lives with his wife, Rachel, and two daughters in the other end of the house at 350 Strawberry Ridge Road.
John Z. Stoltzfus said he lost woodworking equipment in the blaze, and that he had no estimate of damage.
Three young Holsteins, freed from the barn, wandered around the area and even went up to fire trucks parked near the barn. Cows and horses were eventually taken through the snow to a nearby barn or pasture. A black cat was seen escaping from the barn. Witnesses said the cat and another cat jumped from the barn roof.
New barn to be built soon
Roberts, the Washingtonville assistant chief, didn’t have a damage estimate for the barn or the wood shop.
“They will probably rebuild,” he said of the family. “There will probably be a new barn here in a couple of weeks.”
Fire companies responded from Washingtonville, Danville, Mahoning Township, Liberty Township and Valley Township in Montour County along with fire police and a Danville ambulance. Northumberland County companies included Warrior Run, Milton, Potts Grove, Turbot Township, Tuckahoe, Southside and Point Township. Columbia County companies were summoned from Lightstreet, Montour Township, Bloomsburg and Millville.
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