PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) – Half of Old Warren Road in Palmer was closed Tuesday afternoon as local fire crews responded to a fully-involved barn fire.
At 4:29 p.m. Tuesday, The Palmer Fire Department was sent to a fully-involved barn fire on Old Warren Road, according to the Palmer Fire Department. Multiple surrounding towns assisted the Palmer Fire Department with manpower and water supply, including crews from Belchertown, Ware, Monson, Wilbraham, Warren, Three Rivers, Hardwick, Bondsville, and Brimfield.
A house that was adjacent to the barn was seen to remain mostly intact, as many crews worked to put out the fire throughout the barn. Crews deployed hose lines to protect the home while the mutual aid crews helped with the water supply because the property was outside of the town’s hydrant district.
“Our first priority was to protect the exposure of the house and as crews were pulling up, the occupants were evacuated from the structure so there were no injuries with residents or firefighters,” said Chief William Bernat of the Palmer Fire Department.
Construction crews were called in to demolish the remainder of the barn. Palmer Fire also reported on Twitter that there are no injuries. The State Fire Marshall’s office was contacted and determined that the cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
We will continue to update this story as new information is shared with us.