Amish Barns Burn, Then Rebuilt
Published: Friday, July 12, 2024
Almost as soon as flames were out, the rebuild began after a fire destroyed two barns last Tuesday morning in Northeast Allen County.
Shortly before 5 a.m., Allen County's Northeast Fire District crew got to work on two barns at an Amish farm about four miles northeast of Grabill on Raynor Road near Cuba Road. They found both buildings engulfed in flames. There was a 50-foot by 100-foot structure that stored hay and another 30 by 45 units for machinery and farm equipment, with collapsed roofs and crumbling walls.
The Amish family did not share their name, but a search of county property records show the owners as Jesse and Sarah Marie Lenacher. The couple said they awoke to cattle stirring in a nearby pasture and their mobile phones ringing from neighbors, calling them.
They found both buildings with walls and roofs crumbling. The wife said she heard an explosion from outside the outbuildings.
The husband said he knew the barns were gone, so he turned his attention to the company shed, an open-spaced shelter that hosts gatherings such as church and meetings and sometimes storage.
He quickly stretched a 40-foot, ¾-inch garden rubber hose to the building and sprayed the structure.
Even with just 25 gallons a minute, it was enough to keep the building safe until a skeleton crew of firefighters arrived.
Other than some heat-seared vinyl siding, the building withstood the threat.
"They did a fantastic job," Chief Jeff Berning said. It was melting; if we got there much later, it would have been destroyed."
The chief said the effort required 15 trucks and tankers from Auburn, Concord Twp. and Spencerville in DeKalb and Allen County's East Central and Northwest Fire Districts. They used more than 66,000 gallons of water.
There were no injuries reported, but the family said at least one kitten was killed.
"It's replaceable," the couple reasoned.
"It's just stuff," he said. His wife interjected, "And we are glad it wasn't more."
There were no details on the extent of the damage; other than that, it was a total loss. Berning added that "it was impossible to determine the cause of the fire or an estimate given the totality of the rubble."
The fire was a story. The lesson is to rebuild.
Just a few days ago, the barnyard was a heap of ash; now two barns are speeding toward completion. Thanks to dozens of friends and neighbors in and outside the Amish community.
Early this week, they'll finish interior work on the buildings and outside trim. This might take a week to complete.
The husband said it was easy to get to work.
"We didn't have to deal with insurance or those things, so it was pretty simple to get started. They only think that was hard because we needed to get the county involved for permits, but that wasn't even that hard."
Then he laughed. Well, there's plenty of hard work.
With the paperwork and legalities that come with other fires or disasters, it can take weeks or a couple of months to rebuild.
Volunteers came over unannounced.
"We didn't even have to ask. Word spread. They showed up," the wife marveled.
"I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of love," the wife said. "It's amazing; it humbles you," he said. But he also recalls times he's helped with tornadoes, lightning strikes and even other barn fires.
The husband estimates they've had about 75 people lend a hand in the first four days alone.
"I don't even know who all was here, to be honest. They were moving in and out. I can't keep track of them."
Even neighbors who aren't Amish jumped in.
Some were there just for an hour or two; others were there every day doing whatever needed to be done. Others provided their expertise and moved on.
"It's a tradition; so many people help. There's not much planning; they just come and do what they must do."
No one keeps a tally; they keep working.
"We can't thank people enough," she said. "There was a lot of good help and good food. It's an amazing community."
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