Major Fire on Bailey Road Visible for Miles
Five Volunteers Treated at Hospital for Fumes
Note: This is an ongoing story that will be updated as more information is available.
The brilliant, clear midday sky in eastern Ohio was pierced by a thick dark plume of smoke Saturday afternoon as a fire, as of yet undetermined origin, destroyed a storage building/barn at Stenger Trucking, 61516 Bailey Road east of Barnesville.
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Social media posts by individuals from as far away as Bellaire, Woodsfield and Cambridge indicated they could see the thick billowing smoke in the distance.
The call came into Barnesville Fire and EMS at around 1:30 pm.
Barnesville Fire Chief Bobby Froehlich said the structure was fully engulfed when local volunteers arrived on the scene.
Although there is municipal water available on Bailey Road, it is not of sufficient supply to fight a major fire of this nature.
The call for help went out to the Tanker Task Force. The following departments responded: Somerton, Bethesda, Belmont, Smith Township, Old Washington, Antrim, Woodsfield, Cumberland Trail, Spirit of ’76.
Fire trucks lined up with water to to fight the fire. [©Barnesville Area News Company photos]
Temporary collection pools were used to hold the water that was then pumped out by the primary pumper to douse the flames. Trucks were lined up along Bailey Road waiting their turn to unload full tankers into the collection pools.
Also responding were the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency and Salvation Army.
Barnesville EMS Captain Mary Anne Stephens said five fire personnel were overtaken by fumes and transported to Barnesville Hospital.
By 3 p.m., fire officials were fairly certain of what was causing the fumes and issues with the firefighters, a combination of several chemicals stored in the structure that, when ignited and combined, can cause respiratory issues.
At about the same time, fire personnel began the tedious work of putting out hotspots.
With little but metal and debris remaining, the building was an obvious total loss. Fortunately, there was no loss of life or any animals injured.
[©Barnesville Area News Company photos]
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