Inferno destroys barn on Elmer Hill Road in Rome

A fire destroyed a barn Monday night at 8471 Elmer Hill Road near Lake Delta.

Firefighters battled the inferno that began sometime around 5 p.m. for more than an hour before bringing it under control around 6:30 p.m. They still were dousing hot spots at that time.

The fire took longer than expected to control due to a problem with the area?s water pressure, said Rome Fire Department Deputy Chief Tom Palinski. Rome, Westernville and Lee Center fire departments responded.

Palinski said the structure was an old barn and that it housed one horse. The horse had not been found as of 7 p.m.

Firefighters? primary concern was containing the fire, Palinski said. The barn was surrounded by several homes.

?Our main concern was the neighbors and keeping them safe,? he said.

The fire did not spread to other homes, he said.

The origins of the fire were unknown and an investigation will follow, he said.

The owner?s name could not be confirmed.

Neighbor Bruce Small said he saw a bright red light coming through his window around 5 p.m.

?I went to the window and saw the flames and called 911,? he said. ?It was totally engulfed, like a fire pit.?

Small said the flames shot at least 100 feet into the sky, well past the nearby silo that still is standing.

Another neighbor Betty Fisher lives several houses away from the structure, but saw flames painting the sky while looking out her window.

?Over the trees, all I saw was shooting flames,? she said. ?I?ve never seen anything like it.?

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Source: http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1819705932/Officials-respond-to-fire-near-Lake-Delta

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