Wood-burning stove, fuel leak blamed for Walker fire

Officials believe a wood-burning stove and a possible fuel leak led to a fire Wednesday that destroyed a farmhouse near Walker.

No one was hurt in the blaze, which was reported around 11:15 a.m. at 4400 Bauer Lane. About 30 volunteer firefighters from five different departments assisted at the scene.

Walker Fire Chief Bill Smith said the homeowner, Maynard Bauer, was outside getting firewood when he realized his house was on fire. He went down the gravel road to a nearby residence and called for help.

The first crews on the scene found flames in the basement that had risen up a laundry chute into the first and second floors, Smith said. Part of the first floor had collapsed around the stove and furnace.

Smith said it seemed like there was a fuel source beyond the firewood, as they fought the fire.

"We seemed to have it knocked down, so we went upstairs to the kitchen and got that knocked down," Smith said. "But when we turned back around, the basement was on fire again, so we went back downstairs. We did that three times."

Smith the 60-year-old house was considered a total loss.

Firefighters from Walker, Troy Mills, Center Point, Urbana and Monroe Township responded to the fire. Tanker trucks hauled water from about a mile away in Walker.

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