Firefighters control roof fire in one hunred year old barn

Just before 1:30 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012 firefighters from Forest Grove, Banks, North Plains, and Cornelius were called to a barn fire in the 8000 block of NW Spreadborough Lane in the Forest Grove Rural Fire Protection District.  When firefighters arrived they found a large, two story barn, that had been on the small family farm property for over 100 years that had light smoke coming from the roof.  Firefighters went to work, using ladders to climb inside the cavernous barn structure to spray water on the fire that was burning slowly in the roof of the old wooden barn.  Once they felt like the fire was under control, they called for the thirty five foot tall ladder from Forest Grove's ladder truck to scale the west wall of the barn and cut away the burned roofing and eave structure so that they were sure the fire was out.  Fire Investigators confirmed the property owner's statements that earlier this afternoon he had been burning yard debris on a nearby burn pile when   Fortunately, the barn was empty this time of year and the fire did not spread beyond the roof area.  There were no injuries as a result of this fire, which caused an estimated $5,000 in damage to the roof..  Please be cautious when burning, never burn near structures, brush, or fences and always attend your burn pile with a garden hose and firefighting tools at all times.