On Saturday, July 11 at approximately 3:00 p.m., a fire completely destroyed a barn at the Tom and Annie Miller farm in Teutopolis. The farm is situated about 2 miles east of the city limits.
The fire had been started when son Ed Miller had been working on a tractor in the barn and a spark apparently ignited other materials in the barn. The barn was split between a shop area and storage shed for equipment, tools, and hay. Most of the big equipment was saved before the fire engulfed the barn.
Within five minutes of the call, the Teutopolis, Dieterich, and Montrose fire trucks were on the scene. Because of the fast response of these fire departments, the fire was contained to the barn. No person or animal was injured and the gas tanks that were nearby were covered in foam by the firefighters. Annie Miller noted that just the day before on Friday the wind had been very strong but on Saturday there was hardly any wind. The Teutopolis and Montrose Fire Departments were on the scene until about 7:00 p.m.; Dieterich had left a little earlier. The surrounding buildings and gas tanks near the former barn have been temporarily moved.
The damage is estimated to be between $75,000 and $100,000, possibly more, and the Miller family is planning to rebuild the barn.
