Fire destroys barn in rural Centre County, response hindered by water supply issues
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fire destroyed a Union Township barn used for storage early Friday morning.
- Firefighters struggled with dry creeks and no hydrants, relying on tankers.
- Volunteer shortages and staffing issues complicated response efforts further.
A barn in rural Centre County was reduced to ash Friday by a fire that was made more challenging because of issues with water supply and manpower.
First responders were dispatched about 6:45 a.m. Friday to the 1800 block of Dix Run Road in Union Township, Citizen’s Hook & Ladder Co. President Jonathan McClure told the Centre Daily Times.
The barn — which was being used as a storage facility — was already destroyed when firefighters arrived, McClure said. They extinguished the blaze by soaking it with thousands of gallons of water. It was under control about 8:30 a.m.
It was not immediately known what caused the fire or where it began. A fire marshal is investigating. No injuries were reported among the roughly 35 first responders.
There are no fire hydrants in the area of the township that’s home to about 1,225 people. When firefighters pivoted to nearby creeks, McClure said many of them were dry or otherwise low. Seven tanker trucks ultimately brought water from Bald Eagle Creek.
McClure said it was also challenging to get a sufficient amount of volunteers to respond at a time when many people were preparing for work. Leaders have been sounding the alarm about the dwindling number of volunteer firefighters for years.
Walker Township, Beech Creek, Pleasant Gap, Undine, Logan, Alpha, Howard, Port Matilda, Philipsburg and Snow Shoe fire companies were among those who assisted, as well as fire departments from Clinton County. Port Matilda and Bellefonte EMS also responded.