Firefighters from four rural districts responded to a home near Roca around 2:45 Thursday afternoon. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says the owner says embers from a burn barrel ignited dry grass and then spread to a 40-by-50 foot metal storage shed.
“The owner says he last burned trash Wednesday evening and thinks the high winds may have picked up some of the embers out of the barrel.” The storage building contained a camper, two ATV’s, a jet ski, mower and hand tools. Wagner says everything was a total loss with damage estimated at $70,000.
Wagner says his deputies responded to the scene along with firefighters from four rural fire districts. Wagner urges everyone to be extra cautious with fire during these dry conditions.