News: Dorchester – Christensen Barn Fire (19 Mar 2021)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Mueller, Christensen

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 24 Mar 2021


A barn on County Line Road northwest of Dorchester was destroyed by a Friday night fire that started in some bales of hay and eventually engulfed the entire structure.

Multiple fire departments, including Central Fire, Medford and Stetsonville, responded to the barn fire at about 5:20 p.m. on March 19. Departments in Spencer, Athens, Edgar, Stratford and Thorp also sent tankers to provide support.

Central Fire chief Joe Mueller said the fire appears to have been started accidentally by some juveniles who said they were burning trash near the barn. A stack of 20 round bales used for bedding caught on fire and quickly spread to the barn’s hay mow, he said. Because the barn had a steel roof, Mueller said firefighters were unable to get at the flames right away. Several backhoes were used to assist in fighting the fire.

Firefighters, who were on scene until around midnight, were able to suppress the flames enough so they did not spread to any other structures.

Mueller said a few firefighters had to return to the site on Sunday when the high winds stoked some of the smoldering debris.

The farm, which is owned by the Christensen family, lost a few animals in the fire, Mueller said. No injuries were reported.