OLD FORT, Ohio — Smoke could be seen all the way in Fostoria and Clyde after a large fire at a farm near Old Fort in Seneca County on Saturday evening.
The multi-alarm fire, at Riehm Produce Farm on State Route 53 in Seneca County, started around dusk on Saturday.
WTOL 11 spoke with Phil Riehm, a fifth generation farmer whose parents live on the property where the fire occurred.
According to Riehm, a "cattle barn" and a "hay barn" burned down after what is believed to be an electrical fire. Riehm said his father turned on the lights of the livestock barn to feed the animals when the fire sparked.
"My dad went over and flipped on the light switch, went over to feed the goats, came back less than a minute later and the fire was starting to go," said Riehm.
Riehm said the livestock barn that burned down was originally built in the early 1900s.
"We're just really blessed and happy that everybody is safe," Riehm continued. " At least seven fire departments are here helping to put the fire out."
Crews from Old Fort Volunteer Fire Dept., Clinton Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept., Bettsville Volunteer Fire Dept., and the Bascom Joint Fire District were on hand to put out the fire.
When asked about the animals in the barn, Riehm said almost all of the livestock made it out to safety, and all of the farm's cows made it out alive. Currently, the cows are being housed at other locations on the farm's property and at a neighbor's farm.
He noted that the farm will still be operating as usual out of their produce barn. In addition to their roadside stand and CSA farm boxes, Riehm Produce Farm is known for their ‘barnyard fun’ weekends during the fall.
Riehm said that he sincerely appreciated all of the community support that he and his family have been shown following the incident, especially his neighbors, who allowed access to their wells to help extinguish the fire.
"We just want to thank everybody," said Riehm. "We'll rebound, we're strong-willed and God's always with us."
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