Medina barn is a total loss from fire
Photos by Tom Rivers – A former carriage barn was in a pile of rubble today after a fire Monday at the site on the Walsh Alley off Prospect Street.
Press release, Medina Fire Department
MEDINA – A fire on Monday at a former carriage house behind 228 Park Avenue has been deemed a total loss. Officials from the Medina Fire Department and Police Department are investigating, and no cause has been ruled out at this point.
The Medina Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 6:08 p.m. along with one engine from Shelby and a FAST crew from Lyndonville.
Initially the call was for a structure fire behind the old Maplecrest restaurant. But the fire proved to be at an old barn behind Park Avenue. The structure was a carriage house in the alley behind the property, known as Walsh Alley.
On arrival, Engine 11 encountered heavy fire blowing out the doors and windows of the structure. Two sides of the fire building had exposures close by, one being a garage to the west and the house to the south side.
Firefighters douse the blaze with water. Several fire companies responded to the scene.
A second alarm was struck by command and that brought Ridgeway to the scene with an engine and manpower. The firehouse was covered with a crew and a rescue truck from East Shelby, one engine and crew from Middleport, a FAST crew from Albion and an ambulance from COVA in Albion.
Medina Truck 40 established an aerial water stream for extinguishment as well as exposure protection. Shortly after that there was a collapse of the building, which was planned for by firefighters. Albion’s FAST crew then moved up to the scene to stand by with Lyndonville’s FAST crew.
A personnel accountability report was called for by command and all crews were accounted for without any injuries. The bulk of the fire was knocked down shortly thereafter and contained to the carriage house.
To ensure all smoldering piles of the structure were extinguished, the Village DPW crews brought in heavy equipment. This allowed fire crews to have better access to some areas still burning. All crews were clear of the scene at about 11 p.m.
Walsh Alley was a lane for residents to bring their horse and carriages to their barns in an era before the automobile. One hitching post remains in the alley.
