Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 22 at 5:43PM EDT until March 23 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 73 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO RIPLEY SWITZERLAND
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE CAMPBELL KENTON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 32 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OHIO
DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE FRANKLIN HOCKING LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO
ADAMS HIGHLAND PIKE ROSS SCIOTO
IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
BROWN BUTLER CLERMONT CLINTON HAMILTON WARREN
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
AUGLAIZE CHAMPAIGN CLARK DARKE GREENE HARDIN LOGAN MERCER MIAMI MONTGOMERY PREBLE SHELBY
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ADA, ALEXANDRIA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TROY, URBANA, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Thursday, January 31st, 2019

Fire and ice

Firefighters battle blaze in frigid temps, 30 mph winds

By Sydney Albert

Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard

Southwest Mercer Fire Department firefighters respond to a fully engulfed outbuilding Tuesday night on Philothea Road in Recovery Township. The temperature was 8 degrees and wind speeds ranged between 20 and 30 mph, local weatherman Dennis Howick said.

RECOVERY TOWNSHIP - Firefighters braved bitterly cold temperatures and 30 mph winds to battle an outbuilding fire to which they responded about 11:12 p.m. Tuesday near Fort Recovery.

The structure at 2494 Philothea Road was declared a total loss, according to Southwest Mercer Fire Department Assistant Chief Roger Lennartz.

The call reportedly was made by a passerby. The outbuilding and a camper that had been parked close to it had reportedly both caught fire. Lennartz said no people were in the building at the time, but a handful of livestock was safely removed.

Due to the weather conditions and the danger posed to firefighters by the low temperatures, Lennartz said they had to do a quick overhaul of the building, pulling it apart to put out the hotspots.

The Southwest Mercer Fire Department sent 18 firefighters and four trucks to the scene, and the St. Henry Fire Department responded with two trucks and 10 firefighters. Lennartz said firefighters returned to the station at 2:08 a.m.

Lennartz said the cause of the fire is still being investigated. The building's owner, Scott Gehle, had insured the structure.

Archive of January 31st, 2019

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Additional online story on this date

Area businesses spring into action in cold

Area businesses and services were called into action on Wednesday as arctic temperatures swept the area.

Local weather forecaster Dennis Howick sai [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Repayment expected for lakeshore land buys

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Group helps owners protect natural, ag land

ST. MARYS - For landowners hoping to preserve their lands through easements, the roles of steward and enforcer can fall to organizations such as the West Central Ohio Land Conservancy.

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Local resident pleads guilty

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Friday Night Spotlight

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Panthers ready to see how they stack up against 'Skins

Parkway is looking for its first winning season since 2008-2009.

And at 7-7 overall, the Panthers are in a good position to accomplish just that.

Local schools to hold Hall of Fame ceremonies on Saturday night

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Moving on up

Bruns adds to his resume at ONU

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