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Fire destroys abandoned house near Othello

by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Staff Writer | May 5, 2021 1:00 AM

OTHELLO — A brush fire destroyed an abandoned house at around 11:45 a.m. Thursday on West Bench Road, about eight miles southwest of Othello.

Adams County Fire District 5 Chief Gary Lebecken said the fire was reported as a grass fire at 2723 W. Bench Road, which was burning toward an abandoned building.

“Units arrived to find overhead power lines blocking the driveway,” Lebecken said. “The fire had ignited and damaged several dead trees, creating additional hazards. The house had been unoccupied for several years after the death of the previous owner. Firefighters were able to gain access from the east and stop fire movement. However, they discovered a spot fire on the roof that had spread to the interior of the structure.”

Previous damage to the roof made it difficult to extinguish the fire, he said.

“Considering the condition of the structure and the danger from falling limbs and trees, firefighters pulled away from the structure and protected a nearby machine shed while the structure burnt,” Lebecken said.

Fire crews were on the scene throughout Thursday night and into Friday, he said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.