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Fire departments battle barn blaze

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

EAST PALESTINE — A passerby calling 911 alerted firefighters to a blaze at a barn on Bacon Avenue on the west end of the village shortly after 1 a.m.

East Palestine Fire Chief Josh Brown said the barn, which was being used mainly to store items, was a total loss. There was no electricity connected to the barn, leading Brown and other firefighters to deem the fire to be suspicious.

Firefighters from East Palestine, New Waterford, Negley, Darlington Township (Pa.) and Springfield Township gathered at the scene after the call came in at 1:05 a.m. and the fire was confirmed by Police Lt. Donald Johnson, who was out on patrol.

Besides the water utilized from nearby fire hydrants, Brown said firefighters hauled in 17 tanker trucks of water and used the ladder aerial to douse the fire from above.

The last firefighters left the scene and returned to the station at 6:55 a.m. No injuries were reported.

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Inside the charred barn is a boat, a 1950’s era Cadillac and other items. The barn, owned by Dan Huff, was not insured.

Brown said the state fire marshal’s office is expected to assist the department in looking at the evidence on Monday.

At this point they believe there was no one inside the barn or around it. Neighbors were awakened after the fire was discovered. Brown said the neighbors interviewed told investigators they did not hear or see anything prior the the fire starting.

This is the second barn fire in the area in less than a week with the first on Monday at a farm on Raley Road in Elkrun Township. The fires were less than six miles apart.

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine along with New Waterford firefighters attack the flames inside an old barn on Bacon Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters from Negley, New Springfield and Darlington, Pa. also assisted at the scene with tankers, engines and manpower to bring the Huff barn under control. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Firefighters battled snow, rain, wind and temperatures hovering around the freezing mark as they attacked a barn fire on Bacon Avenue in East Palestine early Saturday morning. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Firefighters battled snow, rain, wind and temperatures hovering around the freezing mark as they attacked a barn fire on Bacon Avenue in East Palestine early Saturday morning. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine Fire Chief Josh Brown and a firefighter look over the side and rear elevation of the Huff barn as firefighters continue to work on extinguishing the structure. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine Fire Chief Josh Brown and a firefighter look over the side and rear elevation of the Huff barn as firefighters continue to work on extinguishing the structure. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine Fire Chief Josh Brown and a firefighter look over the side and rear elevation of the Huff barn as firefighters continue to work on extinguishing the structure. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Fire fighters attack the flames from the ground as East Palestine's aerial truck pours a steady stream of water down into the barn through the collapsed roof of the Huff barn. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Firefighters take turns manning the trucks, hoses and battling the smokey fire. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Firefighters take turns manning the trucks, hoses and battling the smokey fire. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

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