3 hurt when fire levels barn near Gibsonburg

9/21/2007

GIBSONBURG, Ohio Firefighters were investigating the cause of a fire that burned a large barn to the ground late Wednesday and spread into a cornfield and injured three firefighters, authorities said

The barn at 1555 County Road 66, about a mile east of Gibsonburg in Sandusky County s Washington Township, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. It has been the scene of several suspicious fires in the past few years, authorities said.

Mark Kirsch, assistant chief of the Gibsonburg Volunteer Fire Department, estimated the loss at $20,000.

The fire, which burned through a quarter acre of a cornfield, will continue smoldering for a week, Chief Kirsch predicted yesterday.

Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, including a burned hand and smoke inhalation.

Joe Lewandowski of the Gibsonburg department was treated at Fremont Memorial Hospital.

The barn, owned by the Kaemming family, is thought to be about 100 years old and has been nearly vacant for about 15 years. It measured about 80 feet by about 100 feet, firefighters said.

Four fire departments Gibsonburg, Helena, Lindsey, and Woodville sent 66 firefighters to the blaze, which was reported just before 9 p.m.