An open burning situation got away Wednesday afternoon, and spread to a nearby barn in the village of Liberty Center, and then destroyed a neighbors home. The Henry County Sheriff’s office reports six departments responded to the scene at 3:47pm yesterday, including Liberty Center, McClure, Malinta, Wauseon, Delta, and Napoleon. The location was 321 West Maple Street. Embers from the open burn spread to a barn at the Kyle Kleeburger property, totally destroying the barn, and a nearby outbuilding. A vehicle was also destroyed there. More embers were blown across the street to a stubble field, and ignited leaves in the gutter of a home on the Adam Demoe property. That blaze spread throughout the structure, and flames destroyed the attic and second story of the home, while there was significant damage to the rest of the residence. About 40 fire-fighters were on the scene; but no injuries were reported. Crews were at the site for nearly five hours, and damage from the incident is expected to top six figures. Evidence at the scene was turned over to the Henry County Sheriff’s Department for further investigation.
The sheriff’s office also investigated a four-vehicle crash on state route 66 just south of Archbold at 3:18pm Wednesday. The chain-reaction collision led to injuries for 16 year old Brylee Riegsecker of Fayette, who was transported to the Fulton County Health Center by Archbold Rescue. Also injured was 17 year old Taylor Garman of Hicksville, who was taken to Bryan Hospital by Ridgeville Rescue. And 17 year old Kasyn Schafner of Archbold was injured and transported to the Fulton County Health Center by Archbold Rescue. Two drivers were cited in the accident.
Henry County deputies made an arrest following an escape from A Renewed Mind on Oakwood Avenue in Napoleon. 29 year old Jeremy Litchfield of Archbold was apprehended and turned over to Napoleon Police, and then transported to the regional jail.
And a theft investigation is underway in Holgate, where items were stolen from property in the 300 block of Marion Avenue in a report filed at 5pm last evening.