The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire that destroyed a barn at Frock's Sunnybrook Farm in the 100 block of Bond St. in Westminster yesterday.
One firefighter suffered an asthma attack while battling the blaze that brought 100 firefighters and 14 pieces of equipment from Westminster, Reese, Pleasant Valley, Manchester, Union Bridge, Hampstead and New Windsor. The firefighter was released after treatment at Carroll County General Hospital.
"The building was fully involved when the first engines arrived shortly after the blaze was discovered at 1:12 a.m.," said Doug Spencer, assistant fire chief for the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department. "The roof was collapsing and we had to concentrate on a nearby trailer park and a small house only 50 feet from the barn. The heat from the fire melted the mini-blinds inside one window of the house."
The fire was brought under control in about 90 minutes, but firefighters remained at the site nearly four hours checking for hot spots, officials said.
A Frock's spokesman said the 57-foot by 30-foot building was used for auctions in the past, but currently was used only for storage. The damage to the building was estimated at $60,000. The value of the contents was not immediately known, officials said.
The chief called for the second alarm at 1:21 a.m., nine minutes after the fire was discovered, because of the intense flames in the barn and the proximity of the other buildings, including the main building that is used as a catering hall, Assistant Chief Spencer said.
Three deputy fire marshals were at the site yesterday trying to determine the cause of the fire.