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.
