December 29, 2011
12/30/11 Thursday afternoon fire fighters from several departments responded to a huge barn fire at 14173 6th Road just north of Plymouth. A neighbor called 9-1-1 at 12:37 and reported that the barn that was totally engulfed. Black plumes of smoke rose high into the sky and could be seen for miles.
The LaPaz Fire Department was lead in battling the blaze and knew immediately they would need mutual aid due to the size of the fire, high wind condition, and lack of water to fight the fire.
Tanker trucks from Bremen, Bourbon, Lakeville, Walkerton, Koontz Lake, North Liberty ferried water from the hydrant in front of Showland Cinema on Oak Drive to the scene. The Plymouth Fire Department assisted with a full crew of firefighters and equipment.
The blaze totaled the barn leaving only a few standing timbers and sheet metal. The barn, owned by Jeffery Miller was full of hay and had a tractor and vehicle inside that were also destroyed.
Firefighters battled the blaze and high wind conditions keeping the fire from spreading to a nearby house, although the vinyl siding on the home melted from the heat of the fire.
Although this was a rural area, a city water hydrant was near and traffic was restricted on Oak Drive and the tanker trucks would fill and return to the scene. At one time approximately 8 tankers were lined up on 6th Road waiting to assist with the fire.