Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Barn And Crops Destroyed In Fire Of Unknown Origin

On August 27, 1929 around 7 p.m. Shippensburg firemen were sent to the Frank Hollar farm on the old Carlisle Pike just east of town for a barn fire. Both companies made good time getting to the scene but were unable to do anything to save the building because of the lack of water. Destroyed was a 30-by-80 foot building containing 19 tons of baled straw and 35 to 40 tons of hay. Damages were estimated at $2,000. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm. On August 11, 1926 a barn was destroyed by fire on the same property.

Have you ever noticed the amount of fires I post that were barn fires? I have not kept track of them but from typing it seems as if there is allot spread out over 150 plus years.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys,

In the 50s and 60s Barn Fires where pretty common. There where a lot of them all over the Valley. They made pretty spectacular fires from a distance responding at night. During that time period Farmers didn't quite have the drying process under control.

CW

Anonymous said...

But, The big question is Brad, Did they spend as much time with as they do today ?

Brad Myers said...

Today we send many more rigs and spend allot longer at the scene than they did years ago.

We spend way to much time on the fire ground and that could be reduced if we worked our arms more and our mouths less. I for one want to get done and back to the hockey game and out of the weather.

Anonymous said...

As an old farm boy I can remember putting hay in that was just slightly tough, or a higher moisture content. we even salted to prmote curing( 1960`s) Over the years the technolgy in the hay equipment improved drastically which prepared hay to dry much better.
Today we think we must direct these huge master streams of water to extingish everything. All is a loss so why not make sure exposures are not in danger pack it up go home and allow the remains to burn and cause less clean up for the farmer.