by justin strawser
ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP - A barn filled with hay was destroyed Saturday evening in a two-alarm fire that required the efforts of eight local fire companies to battle the blaze.
The fire, which was reported fully involved at approximately 6 p.m., took place on the property of Augustaville Farms on Route 890, less than a querter-mile from Trout Pond Road (Route 4022).
The sign for the business read that the farms sells raw milk, aged cheese and natural grown pork.
By 6:30 p.m., the fire was upgraded to a two-alarm, reflecting the need for additional forces to aid the first responders.
Tanker trucks were pumping water from a nearby pond, sending it up a long driveway toward the barn.
As the fire smoldered and gray smoke spread skyward, at least 11 horses were observed grazing in a fenced pasture while a family, who appeared to be the residents of the property, stood watching.
The roof of the structure, which was near a second building and silo, appeared to have caved in. At 7 p.m., a portion of the roof fell outward, collapsing on the ground while firefighters attacked the scene from several different angles.
Other firefighters had propped ladders on the side of the barn and were pulling what looked like hay or other forms of debris away from the building.
The fire department from Sunbury was reportedly in charge at the scene, but Friendship Hose Fire Company Third Assistant Fire Chief Russel Wertz was unable to be reached Saturday night to provide further details on the owner of the property and the cause and origin of the fire.
Responding fire companies were from Trevorton, Shamokin, Sunbury, Upper Augusta Township, Lower Augusta Township, Stonington, Elysburg and Overlook. There were also ambulances from Americus Hose Company, Sunbury, and Trevorton.