Firefighters contain shed fire
CONCORD TWP — Firefighters and wet ground stopped a shed fire from spreading to a wooded area off Valley Road this morning.
Chief Reid Campbell of the West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department said the house at 134 Valley Road, which was 150 feet from where the shed is, was not in danger, but the blaze could have engulfed the nearby woods.
He said the culprit in starting the fire may have been one or more of the Guinea hens that were lodged in an addition to the 20-foot-by-20-foot shed.
Campbell said property owner Mike Campbell, who is no relation, kept a heat lamp in the addition to warm the 10 hens, which were used to get rid of insects such as ticks.
The chief said the lamp could have ignited the wood chips and hay in the addition. He said the cause is ruled accidental.
He said the hens were either consumed by the fire or fled the scene.
“We couldn’t find any,” Campbell said.
Along with the chickens, a Kawasaki Mule ATV and tools were lost. Campbell estimated total damages at $20,000. Campbell is insured.
Eighteen firefighters responded to the 1:13 a.m., 911 call. The North Washington and Oneida Valley volunteer fire departments assisted at the scene.
Crews cleared the scene at 2:30 a.m.
