UNITED STATES-FARM FIRE.
From the front windows of his house on North Vintage Road, Kinzer Fire Chief Doug Brubaker has an unimpeded view of Vintage Sales Stables.
His proximity is likely the reason the stables in Paradise Township were not a total loss from the fire that broke out about 11 p.m. Sunday.
The two-alarm blaze at 3451 Lincoln Highway East caused about $600,000 damage, according to state police. The roof of the main building collapsed, and fire damage there was extensive.
However, much of the complex was saved, as were about 50 head of steer.
The cause of the blaze remained undetermined as of Monday evening.
Brubaker initially thought fog might have moved into the area, but then he looked outside and saw flames. He called 911 and headed across the street.
Because he arrived so quickly, he was able see the fire’s location before smoke obscured it: the main building houses offices and a sales arena where cattle are shown. The fire was toward the rear of the arena, he said.
Crews directed their attack there, and "that kept it to where it started," Brubaker said Monday.
.About 150 firefighters from numerous companies battled the blaze for more than four hours overnight Sunday, Brubaker said.
At first, firefighters were able to enter the building and attack the fire directly. However, the roof began to collapse after 20 minutes or so, and they were ordered out. Because they were limited to an exterior attack, the fire was difficult to put out, the chief said. Personnel remained on the scene until daybreak.
Lincoln Highway East was closed between McIlvaine Road and Hoover Road, and a hose was laid across the highway to draw water from a pond at American Infrastructure’s corporate training and conference facility on South Vintage Road. Additional water was hauled in from ponds at Kinzer Quarry and Denlinger Pond in Paradise, Brubaker said.
When American Infrastructure put in the ponds, the contracting and building supply firm told local fire companies they could use the water whenever it was needed, Brubaker said.
The chief was happy the cattle could be rescued.
"I was sure they were going to be lost," he said. However, firefighters successfully moved them away from the blaze.
Brubaker noted several explosions during the fire, which he said could have been propane tanks.
The fire scene was quiet Monday afternoon, although it drew curious onlookers from time to time. Yellow "caution" tape circled the site, and plywood boards spray-painted "Keep out" had been set up.
Vintage Sales Stables Inc. conducts auctions of steers, cows and veal calves. The Frame family — a sister and two brothers — owns the business, Brubaker said. Hall Frame is listed as the business’s president on several Web sites that list company profiles.