Leaking gasoline continued to ignite while firefighters moved their attack of the fire to a different position. Photos by Deb Patterson

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Deb and Dan Beer were going about their normal morning routine Saturday, when the severe thunderstorm rolled through the area. Deb was in the office on the west end of their home, when lightning struck the home.

She said the hit to the house shook the home and plastic around the light sockets flew off the wall in the room she was in. They smelled smoke and began to investigate. They found the fire on the east end of the home, where the garage was located. Due to having no electricity, opening the garage door was not possible. However, she was able to move one of the two vehicles away from the garage, as she called 911. It was around 8:30 a.m. The van couldn’t be saved.

Firefighters change positions to extinguish flames from a gasoline leak.

Across the road, Dr. Gervas Schafer heard and felt the shake of the lightening strike. He also smelled smoke. A short time later when he looked toward the Beer home, flames as high as the trees and the silo behind the home were seen. Further west, on CR 300E, the lightning strike was also felt.

Milford Fire Department was notified at 8:34 a.m. of the house fire at 3468 E. 1300N. At the same time, Turkey Creek Fire Territory was investigating a tree fire west of the home and a passing motorist stopped to tell them of the house fire. They were en route back to the station to get more equipment when Milford was called.

Turkey Creek Fire Territory, New Paris and Plain Township fire departments were called in to assist.

The garage area was fully engulfed and a van was on fire when firefighters arrived. While the fire to the garage area was extinguished, gas leaking from the van continued to ignite.

Using a cable and winch, the van was turned onto its side, while firefighters continued to extinguish the gasoline fire.

One group of the firefighters concentrated on searching for hot spots and containing the fire under the metal roof and ceiling area inside the home; another group concentrated on extinguishing the gasoline fire. When safe, a cable was attached to the van, and winched onto its side.

The fire was brought under control at 10:31 a.m.

The Beers were able to grab a few items from the home; some items stored in the garage were destroyed. One firefighter brought out some photographs from the garage that were not completely destroyed.

The extent of fire, smoke and water damage to the remainder of the home is unknown. The garage area was destroyed.

Family, neighbors and friends gathered on the front lawn offering support to the Beer family. Numerous offers of places to stay were offered.

The 4,064 square foot home was built in the late 1800s, early 1900s. The original farm house was gutted and remodeled later by the Beers. The Beers have lived at the farm since approximately 1976.