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Barn fire kills calves, devastates family

Photos: Barn fire in Madison Twp.

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By Drew Simon, Staff Writer Updated 11:48 AM Sunday, January 29, 2012

MADISON TWP., Clark County — Several calves and other animals died in a barn fire that destroyed what one family built their lives around.

"We were in the house and my husband happened to look out the window and saw the flames coming out of the barn," said Cari Waymire, who was at her home, 9219 Columbus-Xenia Road, along with her husband and children when the barn went up in flames around 10:45 p.m. Saturday. "We came outside and started moving as much of our stuff as we could, trying to get to the animals."

They were unable to get inside the burning structure to save four 3-day-old calves that were just purchased by the family Saturday.

The family also had two rabbits, hay and other items inside the barn. Waymire's husband lost his first tractor in the blaze.

"We can replace everything we've got. It doesn't mean anything if we don't have our family," Waymire said.

An outpouring of support has already been felt by the family. Friends called and responded to the property minutes after the fire erupted.

"Me and my family were both in a rush to get here," said Nick Hess, a family friend, who also worked on the farm with the Waymires. "Thinking about what happened and what could be and what it was, it was devastating."

The engulfed barn sat only a few hundred feet from the family's house, and several other structures were on the property. Horses were located in a nearby barn, but they were not hurt.

Firefighters from Madison Township, Harmony Township, Stokes Township and Cedarville responded to the fire, which took several hours to bring under control. Crews fought the fire defensively from the beginning due to the proximity of the structure to the home, said firefighters.

"It's hard, we're upset, the kids are upset," said Waymire. "You know, we'll get through it. We're a strong family."

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