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2-Alarm Fire Destroys Barn On Family-Owned Tree Farm
Published On: Aug 17 2011 01:47:40 PM EDT Updated On: Apr 15 2011 06:19:30 AM EDTIt was an all out call for help as fire ripped through a barn at a family-run tree farm Friday morning.
The two-alarmer broke out around 10:30 at the Yocum Brothers Nursery in the 300 block of Westley Road in Robeson Township, Berks County, near the border with Brecknock Township.
No one was hurt in the fire, but the flames did damage part of the family-owned business.
Kim Yocum said she first noticed smoke coming from the barn roof when she looked out her living room window.
"I came up to see how bad it was," said Yocum, "As soon as I saw flames I called 911."
She said it spread very fast.
"It was really windy and it got really quick in a matter of seconds it was in total flames," said Yocum.
Yocum said she thought about how they were losing everything inside. She was shaken up quite a bit because it wasn't just the family business she was concerned about.
"I have four-month-old twins in the house and I quick ran back to get them out and take them to the neighbors, then came back," said Yocum.
Firefighters said their water source was a pond across the street.
"It was pretty well advanced when we got here already the second floor and the roof had already collapsed in," said Capt. Scott Gullo, Geigertown Fire Company. "Our main goal was to contain it to the building it's in."
The owner of the Christmas tree farm and nursery said he was in Mt. Penn when the started.
"Who knows. There's so much, no I don't know," said Larry Yocum, "I wouldn't have any idea what started it."
Larry Yocum could only stand by and plan how the family business, started in 1945, would absorb the loss.
"We're going to have to replace the equipment and all the tractors, tools, take care of it," said Larry Yocum.
The fire marshal is looking for the cause of the fire.
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