MITCHELL - FEBRUARY 17, 2023 - At 1:55pm Marion Twp Fire was dispatched to a medical emergency on Rairden Hill Rd. As crews arrived at the station to respond Marion was dispatched to a barn fire in the 1800 block of Fleenor Rd at 1:58.
Engine 52 arrived on the scene and found fire showing through the roof of the structure. Officer on scene did a scene size up to make sure none of the nearby buildings were involved, and the residence was evacuated.
As other units arrived and water supply was set up with Huron FD, Marion's tankers and Mitchell FD for manpower. Crews were able to quickly remove ceilings in the barn to access the fire and continued suppression efforts until 3:53 when the last unit cleared the scene.
Photo: Firefighters from Marion Township, Mitchell City Volunteer Fire Department and Huron Volunteer Fire Department responded to a barn fire in the 1100 block of Fleenor Road Friday afternoon
"The investigation showed that heat spread from a wood stove in the 1st floor of the barn had spread up the wall and into the dead space between the ceiling of the 2nd floor and the roof. Crews had issues busting through the thick OSB board that was used as walls and ceiling in the 2nd floor. Chain saws and Pike Poles were used to create holes in the ceiling to get to the seat of the fire. Minor damage was suffered to the 2nd floor. "
While fighting the structure fire, at 3:01 Marion was called to a single vehicle accident with injury on State Road 60 East near the Lawrenceport Road intersection. Squad 54 with 2 personnel responded from the structure fire to the scene of the accident. Assistance was given from a Huron FD unit that was able to respond as well and Mitchell FD had a landing zone secured on Industrial Parkway for a medical helicopter. The medical helicopter was not needed and the patient was transported to the emergency room.
Photo: One person was transported to a IU Health Bloomington following a traffic accident on Indiana State Road 60 east near Lawrenceport Road Friday afternoon
"A huge thank you from Huron and Mitchell FD's for their assistance. Fires and accidents during the daytime, when volunteers are short on manpower, can be taxing. In a very short time frame there were 5 calls going on around Mitchell, some of them at the same time. Mitchell was on a medical call as well and when they cleared that they were able to secure a landing zone for the motor vehicle accident. Marion and Huron units were able to break free from the structure fire to respond together to the accident. Everybody worked great together and handled what needed to be done. Crews rotated in and out at the structure fire, which was pretty labor intensive due to the construction and storage in the 2nd floor of the barn."