Huge barn burns on Silberhorn

The eerie orange glow was visible for miles around when a large barn at 11078 Silberhorn Hwy., burned late Tuesday, Jan. 25.

The call came in at 9:53 p.m. that the barn was engulfed in flames. Lead fire department Riga Fire Department called for assistance from the Blissfield Township and Berkey, Ohio, fire deparments then, tanker assistance from Ottawa Lake and the Metamora, Ohio, departments. Later Madison was called to bring in its air tank unit.

Approaching the fire scene, the pillar of smoke rose like a tornado over the flames which licked so high in the black night sky they could be seen from miles away. Side roads were filled with bystanders and the cracking and popping sounds from the fire could be heard from at least a half mile.

Consumers Energy was called in and a county road truck was called in as roads were slick.

For more details on the fire, please watch for the 2-2-11 edition of The Advance.