Grantsville firemen make initial attack, saving
a connected barn and nearby homestead house
Grantsville, Smithville and Arnoldsburg
VFDs respond to roaring fire
July, 2012
A lightning strike caused a raging fire at the Hobart and Alta Richards farm near Big Springs Sunday night.
The strike ignited a fire in a large garage-shed, with firemen managing to contain the blaze and keep it from spreading to a large barn which was connected to the burning structures by a shed, and the old Richard's homestead.
The fire was back on a mountain along Druther Lane off Back Fork Road, not far from State Rt. 16.
The Richards' were away, but family members sitting on a porch of the Richard's house nearby said the strike nearly knocked them out of their chairs.
The Grantsville VFD arrived on scene after enduring a downpour connected to the storm, but after an initial attack briefly ran of of water
Firemen worry about fire spreading through connecting shed
to a barn as water supply was exhausted for a short time
Smithville firemen connect their tanker as fire burns giant cedar trees
The Smithville and Arnoldsburg VFDs dispatched tankers to the scene, and the Grantsville department started shuttling a tanker to hydrants.
Calhoun EMS also responded to the scene.
Richards lost tools, equipment, antique tools and a camper in the fire.
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