BY BOB BRALEY bobb@kpcnews.net   
Sunday, 16 January 2011 16:45

ROME CITY — Fire destroyed a century-old barn Sunday, doing $250,000 damage, according to the Orange Township Fire Department.
Noble County dispatchers paged out a possible barn fire at 3863 E. C.R. 1150N to the Orange Township Fire Department at 3:15 a.m. Sunday, according to the Orange Township Fire Department public information officer James Abbs. First responding units arrived at 3:27 a.m. and found the barn totally involved with heavy smoke and totally engulfed in flames.
The property belonged to Mark Evers and Plainview Longhorns Cattle, according to a press release. There was hay being stored in the barn, which was more than 100 years old. Longhorn cattle were fenced in around the barn, but no animals were harmed.
Orange Township immediately requested mutual aid from the Johnson Township, Albion and Kendallville fire departments. Other responding units reported seeing the glow of the fire five miles away.
Because of the severity fire upon arrival, a defensive attack was taken to prevent further spread. Tankers from all departments were constantly transporting water to supply the pumpers who flowed water during the entire time until the fire was brought under control. The fire was brought under control at 4:52 a.m. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is unknown. Losses were estimated at $250,000. Also assisting at the scene were Noble County EMS and the Noble County Sheriff’s Department.
Firefighters were called to a rekindle of the fire at about 7:10 p.m. Sunday.