Barn Blaze in Forest Hill Attributed to Welding

FOREST HILL, MD – A construction project was underway at a Forest Hill barn Wednesday when fire broke out, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Sparks from welding caused the blaze in the 100 block of Chestnut Road, officials reported.

Workers had been putting a new I-beam into the barn at approximately 11:40 a.m. when a welder noticed some hay ignited, officials reported.

Despite using fire extinguishers, the workers were unable to contain the blaze, which spread rapidly in part because of the day's gusty winds, according to the fire marshal.

Firefighters from Bel Air, Darlington, Fallston and Jarrettsville had the bulk of the blaze contained by 12:20 p.m., according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

To allow first responders to tend to the fire, Chestnut Hill Road was temporarily closed between MD 24 and Johnson Mill Road, Gardiner said.

There were reportedly no injuries as a result of the fire. According to the fire marshal, the structure had $75,000 worth of damage and the items inside the barn that were lost amounted to about $25,000.

Photo Credit: Mark Ensor, Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

PREVIOUS REPORT

Crews were battling a barn fire in Forest Hill Wednesday afternoon that has closed part of a road near the fire ground, according to Harford County emergency officials.

Around 11:40 a.m., the blaze broke out at a barn in the 100 block of Chestnut Hill Road, said Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

According to Gardiner, firefighters from Bel Air, Darlington, Fallston and Jarrettsville had the bulk of the blaze contained by 12:20 p.m.

To allow first responders to tend to the fire, Chestnut Hill Road was closed between MD 24 and Johnson Mill Road, Gardiner said.

There were reportedly no injuries as a result of the fire.