CCVFD Historical Note #7

August 21, 1924

Fire Destroys Large Dairy Barn Sunday

Destructive Fire Rages For Hours. C. T. Baker, of Culpeper Fire Department, Injured.  Dairy House Consume.

A destructive fire, starting about seven o’clock last Sunday night, completely destroyed the large, modern dairy barn located on the farm of Mr. J. G. Hiden.  The Farm is situated about a mile from Culpeper, on the Brandy Road.  A dairy house, standing near the big barn, was also consumed.  One hundred tons of hay and twenty tons of grain were lost in the conflagration.  None of the herd was lost; all having been turned out after the milking was finished.  One of the $1,000 silos was badly cracked by the intense heat. 

Mr. C. T. Baker, member of Culpeper’s Volunteer Fire Department, fell through a shaft in another large barn near the burning structure, and suffered painful injuries.  He, along with other firemen, were engaged in the work of keeping the wall of the barn exposed to the intense heat and showers of sparks, saturated with water.  He was making his way through the loft and failed to see a partly covered hay shaft.  Mr. Baker fell thirty feet, striking on his back.  He made his way out of the barn and into the crowd before anyone knew he was injured.  Dr. Marshall was hurriedly summoned and rendered medical aid.  Fearing an internal injury, he was carried to the University Hospital at Charlottesville Monday morning.  He is now reported to be getting along very nicely.

Fire Makes Quick Headway

According to Mr. Hiden, the milking had just been finished and they were seated at supper when one of the men rushed in and exclaimed that the dairy barn was on fire. When they reached the scene, the entire building was enveloped–smoke rising from all sides.

The alarm was given at once, but due to the large amount of dry hay stored in the barn, the structure was past saving, by the time the local Fire Department, augmented by many citizens, arrived at the scene. Buckets and the chemical apparatus were immediately put to work to keep the fire from spreading to the other big barn, scarcely 50 yards away and the numerous small houses situated near the doomed and fiercely burning building. Intense heat and the shower of sparks made the work extremely uncomfortable and difficult. 

In spite of all they could do with the equipment on hand, a dairy house close by caught fire and was burned to the ground.  Men stood on all the roofs of the other houses and with buckets of water, effectively stayed any further advance of the flames.

Engaged in Work All Night

As darkness drew on, the steady roar of the fire was added to by a continuous succession of cracks and booms, as the heat became fiercer and fiercer. The work of keeping the fire confined became more and more difficult.  A slight breeze carried shower after shower of sparks raining over the other structures.  It was not until darkness had completely settled that the fighters were assured of saving the remaining barn and houses. Even then a force of men was kept busy throughout the night in keeping the fire from making fresh headway.

Insurance Covered Most of Loss

Practically everything except the hay, which was only partly insured, was covered by insurance.  In spite of that there will be much loss in uninsured equipment and the decreased efficiency of the dairy until the barn can be restored.

The Culpeper Fire Department turned out quickly and did all in their power to reduce the damage to a minimum.  Had they been able to bring the water hose into the fight the work could have been accomplished much better and easier.  As it was with no waterpower, they had to depend on the chemical supply and the old-fashioned bucket brigade.

The fire was one of the worst that has visited this section for some time.  The lurid flames against the skies, the column of black smoke and the loud cracking of the heated timbers gave the impression, from a distance, of a battle in progress, which in realty it was, calling for desperate efforts and determination and claiming for its toll in the injury of Mr. Baker and much destruction of property.

Origin of Fire Unknown

The origin of the fire is unknown. The grain and hay in the barn had reached the dust dry stage and some advanced the opinion that it was caused by spontaneous combustion. Either that or a cigarette or match thrown away by one of the dairymen, according to Mr. Hiden. It was in all probability caused by the former as the flames seemed to have enveloped the whole building at once. This would be more easily caused by an explosion