Fire Destroys Barn at Pineyvale Farm in Township

TOWNSHIP –  Several departments were called in last Thursday to do battle with a barn fire, sparked by an idle tractor parked just feet away from it. Dave Post was working on a chainsaw in his shop when he smelled something that wasn't chainsaw exhaust and when he went to investigate, he saw the tractor on fire near the barn. He  attempted to get the fire out with fire extinguishers, but lost the battle and by the time firefighters arrived, the end of the barn was engulfed in flames.

Fanned by a steady breeze, the fire spread quickly through the barn and into the hay mow. The six cows inside were led to the safety of the pasture and the 39 milking cows were later transported from the farm to two other farms to be milked. The call went out as a tractor fire near the barn, but first responders could see a large plume of smoke as they approached and knew they would be battling something much bigger.

An "all call" was eventually put out, with an estimated 100 firefighters responding to the scene. Hobart Assistant Fire Chief Ken Muthig issued the call for all available manpower and equipment once he got on the scene. Muthig was in Jefferson at the time of the call and had Stamford dispatched, thinking they may have closer units.

"Stamford arrived first with their engine," said Stamford Fire Chief Don VanEtten. "By the time they arrived, the fire had traveled up the wall of the barn and flames were coming out of the roof. One end of the barn was completely engulfed."

He immediately started calling for other departments and tankers to help get an ample supply of water flowing at the scene.

The cause is believed to be an old Case tractor that was hooked to a manure spreader and had not been used since the previous day. "I don' t know the official cause, but I believe they thought there was some sort of an electrical short in the tractor,” said VanEtten.

Muthig took over command when he arrived on the scene. "The fire started in the tractor and spread to the barn," he said.

Firefighters attempted to contain the fire, but the flames took over until a steady tanker shuttle was established.The fire moved quickly through the barn, said Muthig. Once an ample water supply was established, firefighters gained control and stopped the fire. In the end, an excavator was brought in to take apart what remained of the barn so  firefighters could get to all the hot spots.

Departments and personnel responded from Stamford, Jefferson, Grand Gorge, South Kortright, Delhi, Roxbury, East Meredith, Davenport, Franklin and Walton in Delaware County; Jefferson and Conesville from Schoharie County and Prattsville from Greene County. Also on scene were fire coordinators and fire investigators from Delaware County, according to Muthig.

New York State Electric and Gas responded to cut power to the barn and Headwaters EMS, Stamford first responders, Hobart EMS, a Delaware County ambulance and AMR provided assistance to firefighters at the scene. Local businesses provided water, coffee and food to Stamford and Hobart to help feed those working at the scene including Tops Supermarket and Stewarts. State police were also on the scene, according to VanEtten.

Bill Eklund and Mike O'Connor of Eklund Farm Machinery brought in the excavator and local farmers came in to help move the cows and provide temporary homes.

"The farm community always comes together," said Muthig. "They responded as well to help with the animals and to take care of things to help the Posts and the McClures.

"The Hobart Fire Department wishes to thank everyone for coming and all the help we received both in and out of the county. It took a while to dispatch all of those who responded and everybody worked well together. We had no major problems. Dispatch did an excellent job and Don VanEtten helped tremendously."

He also thanked Eklund Farm Machinery for working with the excavator to help firefighters get to all the hot spots.

Muthig also thanked county fire coordinators and Maggie Wilson for investigating the cause.

The farm, known as Pineyvale Farm,  has been sitting at the head of the Township valley since 1798 and is well known for breeding and milking quality Holsteins.