A firefighter walks past the back of a farm house on fire on the 9300 block of state Route 47 at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Firefighters from Sidney, Fort Loramie, Anna, Van Buren Township, Lockington and Port Jefferson, battled the large fire.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
By Charlotte Caldwell
SIDNEY — A fire at Chris and Allen Rehfus’s farm at 9365 state Route 47 on Feb. 13 starting at around 5:30 p.m. resulted in losses to the house and abutting garage.
According to Fort Loramie Police Chief Brad Schulze, the fire started in the garage next to the house and crews were on scene until about 11 p.m. putting out hot spots. Schulze believed the house was a total loss as well as the majority of the contents.
All occupants made it out safely, and Schulze said there was an unconfirmed report that a dog died in the fire. Crews pulled 11 or 12 dogs out of the house.
Schulze dispelled the rumor that a helicopter was brought in to drop water on the fire. Crews used the pond at SANKYO to fill up initially and moved to a location on Hardin Wapakoneta Road later in the night because they took about five feet of water from the pond. Schulze guessed about 100,000 gallons of water was used.
The cause of the fire is unknown. Fort Loramie Fire is investigating and recently met with the state fire marshall’s office.
Schulze said traffic was a problem in the beginning until the road could be closed because it was rush hour.
