Barnes' Barn Burns
by Alicia Morissette

NORTH HYDE PARK - On Wednesday, December 29, a fire ignited in a barn in
North Hyde Park. The barn, owned by Robert Barnes, was built in 1870 and
was located on Barnes Road, a road that is off the Whittaker Road, off
Route 100 between Hyde Park and North Hyde Park.
According to Eric Aither, assistant chief of the North HydePark/Eden
Fire Department, the fire was called in "around five o'clock... and we
sent four trucks to the scene." They were unable to return to their
station until 1:30 in the morning. However, this was due to the fact
they were "called out again at six o'clock because some sawdust and
hay," left in the barn caught fire, stated Aither.
The Johnson Fire Department also responded to the scene. Gordy Smith, a
firefighter for the JFD stated he "sent one tank to the scene, one
pumper to Hyde Park and one pumper stayed in North Hyde Park." Smith
also said the area in which the fire occurred was the jurisdiction of
North Hyde Park, so the fire was dealt with mostly by the NHPFD.
In addition to the aid of the Johnson Fire Department, Morrisville Fire
Department (MFD) sent three of their trucks to the scene. "One tank
truck carried water, one brush truck provided transportation and light
and one engine truck pumped water," explained MFDChief Wally Reeve.
However, while at the scene, the MFD engine, or the "pumper" had some
trouble. According to Reeve, "the engine didn't come up to speed. The
throttle on the outside of the truck is electrical, and the computer had
a hiccup." The engine was returned to the MFD and was fixed "half an
hour later."
According to Jeff Limoge, MFD First Assistant Chief , they also helped
with "overhaul," which is when the firefighters "bring burning parts
out" and extinguishing the fire.
Unfortunately, when the fire departments arrived, "the barn was fully
engulfed," and the barn simply burned down said Aither. The cause of the
fire was deemed "accidental" by both Barnes and Aither, and Aither
commented that there was no reason to believe arson was involved.
On a positive note, "no one was hurt," according to Limoge, and as for
future plans for the barn site, Aither stated, "something might be done
in the spring."