Fires occurred in Independence and Whatley
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
Recent barn fires in Whatley, Massachusetts and Independence, Iowa are believed to be the result of lightning striking the buildings.
Fire crews responded to the Whatley fire around 1a.m. on August 14 to find a former tobacco barn completely overtaken by fire upon their arrival.
Fire Chief John Hannum told Western Mass News that firefighters “think it might have been lightning.”
A fire, believed to be started by lightning, destroys a barn in Whatley, MA.
Photo: Georgeann Dufault
The destroyed barn shares a driveway with Whatley Elementary School on Long Plain Road. As a result, crews from surrounding communities, including Hatfield, South Deerfield and Northampton, were called in to assist.
No injuries were reported.
The barn fire in Independence, IA happened on August 13.
“It was like a big bang, crack, you know like lightning sounds when it hits something,” homeowner Holly Cameron told KWWL.
Cameron said moments after, the 100-year old barn was completely engulfed.
Lost in the fire was hay and some tools, but the barn represented more than a storage area.
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“There goes the last piece of history on the farm,” Cameron said, adding the barn is the last original structure dating back to when her grandfather purchased the farm.
No animals or people were injured in the fire. Cameron said the family will clean up and rebuld.