Owner saves piglets from barn fire before local firefighters save structure

PLEASANT CITY — Firefighters from five departments joined forces early Friday morning in southern Guernsey County to save a barn on North Star Road from a fire believed to have been caused by a heat lamp.

Pleasant City Fire Chief Tom Regan said the property owner told firefighters that he believed the fire was ignited by a heat lamp placed inside the barn to keep newborn piglets warm.

The owner was able to rescue the animals from the single-story structure prior to the arrival of firefighters from the Pleasant City, Byesville, Senecaville, Cumberland and Cambridge departments.

"No animals were lost," said Regan. "And, we were able to save the barn. There is some damage, but I believe it's a savable structure.

Regan also said no firefighters were injured while extinguishing the fire in the 24x32-foot barn.

According to a dispatch log at the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office, a direct call reporting the fire was placed to Cambridge firefighters just before 4:30 a.m. Friday.

Firefighters from the Pleasant City and Byesville departments were initially dispatched to the scene with mutual aid requested from the Senecaville, Cumberland and Cambridge departments.

Sheriff's deputies reported at 4:44 a.m. that the barn was fully involved and all animals had been rescued from the structure.

A sheriff's deputy reportedly used his cruiser to mark the driveway to the rural location of the barn off North Star Road for incoming firefighters.

Fire crews remained at the scene until just after 6 a.m.

According to the online web parcel map of the Guernsey County Auditor's Office, the nearly nine acre property where the barn is located is owned by Larry Trank Jr.

No damage estimate was available as of Friday morning.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Owner saves piglets from barn fire before firefighters save structure