HANCOCK COUNTY – Firefighters with the Buck Creek Township Fire Department were called to the scene of a barn fire in the 3000 block of North County Road 400W around 7 a.m. Saturday.
It’s the second time in a week fire officials have had to put out a barn fire on the property.
The first fire Monday killed William Park Jr., Indianapolis, who was a tenant living in a rental house on the property with his girlfriend. Parker was working on a car inside another barn on the property. His body was discovered under a car after that fire was extinguished.
When firefighters arrived on the scene Saturday the barn was in flames.
Two horses, several chickens and chicks were killed, property owner Phil Miller said. The fire also destroyed the barn, originally built with material dating back to the late 1890’s, the family said.
“The barn is a complete loss,” said Buck Creek public information officer Rob White.
Miller said he had just gotten up around 6:45 a.m. Saturday when he heard a car horn honking in his driveway accompanied by someone knocking on his back door. As Miller was coming down the stairs he said he could see the barn, located about 30 yards from the main home, was on fire.
The passer-by called emergency officials while Miller went into the burning barn to try and save the horses. But, he was unable to get them out.
Miller sustained minor burns on his head and left foot in his attempt to rescue the animals.
The state fire marshal is investigating the scene of Saturday’s fire as well as Monday’s, which also broke out early in the morning.
