On Jan. 26 at 6:25 p.m. the Bath Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a barn fire at the Owens Farm at 8451 Larue Road in the town of Wheeler. The fire was seen by a neighbor who lived on the hill across the field and alerted the family to the fire.
Bath Chief Joe Washburn arrived on scene and requested a second alarm for a heavily involved barn fire. Tankers were used to haul water to the scene due to the rural location of this fire.
The very large t-shaped barn was heavily involved in flames endangering the Owens' house, a pig barn and equipment shed which all escaped serious damage.
The main barn housed farm and excavation equipment. A few pieces of the equipment were saved but a large majority were lost.
No injuries were reported to civilians, firefighters or the pigs.
Fifteen fire companies from Bath, Bath VA, Avoca, Kanona, Prattsburg, Hammondsport, Pultney, Howard, Wallace, Wayne, Coopers Plains, Campbell, Cohocton, Savona and Bradford responded to the scene. Painted Post responded to the Bath station to standby for any calls in the Bath district. Also assisting on scene was the Bath Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Steuben County Emergency Management Office and the Steuben County Fire Investigation Team.
It is not known at this time as to the cause of the fire.
