Building Lost to Fire on Middlefield Farm
A fire that started around 10 a.m. April 9 destroyed an outbuilding in Middlefield Township, said Middlefield Fire Department Lt. Ben Reed.
He estimated the sheet-metal building was 2,500 square feet and was one of the smaller buildings on the 62-acre farm of Moses J. and Ada J. Miller, 14760 Hayes Road.
“Our concern was to keep the fire from spreading to the main, big building nearby,” Reed said. “The wind was a huge factor.”
According to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office report, the call went out at 10:16 a.m. and Middlefield and Parkman fire departments responded at 10:21 a.m.
Fire departments from Windsor, Farmington, Bristol, Bloomfield, Orwell, and Chardon assisted to provide water to put out the blaze and Montville sent a back-up fire engine, according to the report.
Sheriff’s deputies blocked traffic on Hayes Road for several hours.
Reed said the structure contained several buggies and assorted items. It was a total loss, but the fire did not spread, he said, adding firefighters were on the scene until about 2 a.m. April 10.
The fire is still under investigation, but Reed said it was likely caused by a small piece of equipment such as a generator or compressor that malfunctioned.
