Fire destroys storage barn at Fasnacht Farm in Perry Township, cause being investigated
PERRY TWP. ‒ Investigators continue to look for the cause of a fire Sunday that destroyed a storage barn on the historic A.D. Fasnacht Farm Park.
Firefighters were called before 1 p.m. Sunday and remained at the property near 12th Street and Jackson Avenue NW for about three hours.
Perry Fire Chief Larry Sedlock said the barn, which was used for storage, was a total loss. The barn contained diesel-fueled tractors, he added.
"It's down to the ground," Sedlock said.
Perry firefighters were assisted by crews from Massillon, North Lawrence and Jackson Township.
Investigators were expected to return Monday to look for clues into what sparked the fire.
Dia Palumbo, a lifelong township resident, spotted flames and smoke from the window of her condo in Perry Commons near the farm.
In a matter of minutes, Palumbo said the barn had brunt to the ground.
"I never saw a structure go up so fast and with so much power. We could hear the crackling and roaring from our street (about 2.5 football fields away on Sippo Creek Street NW).," Palumbo said. "The fire made what looked like fire tornadoes billowing out of the building and each time one of those would happen it would just fuel the fire even more."
The building was destroyed before firefighters were able to put water on it, she said.
Fasnacht Farm has been a landmark in her life.
"I remember when the farm was actually the Fasnacht's farm, even before they built the condos I now live in," Palumbo said. "I know it was just one small building on the land but when you grew up in the neighborhood it's a fixture you saw every day. Those buildings were just part of your landscape that big red barn with the white A.D. Fasnacht written on it. We would play in the woods back there, catching crayfish in the creek, back before all the houses were built on the back side of the farm. It's just as iconic as Gump Hill was for sled riding."
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The barn is one of two on the 30-plus acre property acquired by Perry Township in 2007.
Carey Coates, a township historian, said the one-story barn was built around the 1930s by Dale Fasnacht and his father, Alvin. They used lumber from the farm and planned it themselves to build the storage barn, he said. It was used to store farm equipment.
Coates, who was a friend of Dale Fasnacht, said the fire kept him awake half the night, adding he has dreams of seeing the township fulfill their plans to make it a community farm.
The township has leased the land to local farmers and hosted farm tours and hikes, agricultural classes and a community garden.
Township officials did not return calls seeking comment about the farm.
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@Indeonline.com.
On Twitter: @aknappINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Fasnacht Farm storage barn destroyed by fire, cause undetermined
