Fire destroys TR 98 barn, sheep die

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE Firefighters work at the scene of a barn fire at 2260 W. TR 98 Wednesday evening. Three fire departments responded to a barn fire at 2260 W. TR 98 Wednesday evening. Chief Dennis Kessler of NBS Joint Fire District said the first responding units found an engulfed barn fire. The main concern until more resources arrived was trying to protect a propane tank near the barn, he said. "As resources get in, you can bring more lines in and keep attacking," Kessler said. He said crews used an exterior attack and the bulk of the fire was burned down in an hour and a half. "We had great response," Kessler said. "We had plenty of help." Nobody was in the barn at the time and no people were injured, he said. Kessler said there were sheep in the barn and while some got out, it was unknown how many died in the fire. He said the barn and its contents, including two tractors, a combine, other farm equipment, straw and hay, were a total loss. Kessler said he believed the fire originated on the east end of the barn, but the cause was unknown Wednesday evening. The State Fire Marshal's Office was contacted, he said. The property is owned by Douglas and Sherry Luhring, according to the Seneca County Auditor's Office website. The fire was reported at 5:04 p.m. and NBS Joint Fire District, Bascom Joint Fire District, Sycamore Volunteer Fire and Rescue, NBS EMS and the Echo unit responded to the scene.