A significant barn fire broke out at 2792 Keech Road in the Town of Jerusalem on the morning of September 24 prompting a large emergency response. Yates County 911 received a call at 11:29 a.m., and first responders arrived to find the barn fully engulfed in flames. The fire was reportedly started by a hay chopper that caught fire inside the structure, igniting the hay stored within.
Firefighters from Branchport, Keuka Park, Potter, Penn Yan, Prattsburgh, Benton, Bellona, Rushville, and Middlesex fire departments battled the blaze for several hours. Several additional departments were placed on standby as crews worked to bring the fire under control. Thankfully, no animals were in the barn at the time, and no injuries were reported.
The Yates County Office of Emergency Services, along with Penn Yan Ambulance and Yates County Ambulance, provided support at the scene. The fire has left the barn destroyed, and the incident is still under investigation.
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