Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Set fire destroys old Jackson Township barn and outbuilding on 1050N

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Arson is the likely cause of a fire which destroyed an old barn and adjacent out-building on 1050N early this morning on property in Jackson Township now owned by the Town of Chesterton, the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department said.

Fire Chief Brian Duncan told the Chesterton Tribune today that the fire was discovered around 3 a.m. and by the time the first apparatus was on the scene it was too late to do much more than hose the two structures down and watch them collapse.

“They were completely destroyed,” Duncan said. “They were fully involved on our arrival. Shortly thereafter the roof of the barn fell in on itself.”

The property--an old dairy operation at 270E 1050N--was donated to the town some years ago by Olson Farms LLC as part of the permitting process for the proposed Sand Creek Farms subdivision (now dubbed Easton Park), with the idea that the land would be turned into a park.

Three buildings remained on the property, however: the two-story barn, whose dimensions Duncan put at roughly 80’ x 40’; a 20’ x 30’ single-story out-building located some eight to 12 feet away from the barn and separated by a weedy driveway; and the farmhouse itself, which the Chesterton Fire Department used occasionally--but no more--for ladder and search-and-rescue training exercises.

There wasn’t much left of the barn to burn, Duncan noted today, as “someone a while back” had stolen the old wood exterior, probably for an upscale re-model in someone’s home. Even so, it took around 28,000 gallons of water to douse the fire in both buildings and at 6 a.m. the LTVFD was still “blowing water and mopping up hot spots.”

Assisting at the scene--and participating in a tanker shuttle--were the Chesterton and Westville FDs.

No one was injured in the fire, Duncan said.

But pretty clearly it was set, by someone, he added. Neither the barn nor the out-building has had any utility service in years. Nor was there an electrical storm in the area overnight and so no lightning strikes. That narrows the possible causes significantly, Duncan said.

 

Posted 9/16/2015

 
 
 
 

 

 

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