Rural Pana fire causes $2.5 million damage
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PANA — Local firemen from nine departments were on the scene of a machine shed fire in rural Pana Wednesday afternoon which caused about $2.5 million damage to the shed and farm equipment inside the building. Pana Fire Chief Rod Bland said no one was injured and smoke from the fire could be seen from along Illinois Route 29 between Taylorville and Pana.
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PANA — Firefighters from Pana and nine other fire departments battled a blaze which engulfed a machine shed north and west of Pana about 12:16 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. Pana Fire Chief Rod Bland said the estimated loss of property including farm equipment was $2.5 million.
Bland said the fire was located at 2150E 900N Rd. Ridner Farms are the owners of the property which destroyed a 200’ by 80’ machine shed.
Bland reported a worker at the farm was using a torch to repair a truck inside the shed. The employee remained in the building about an hour after using the torch, then departed for Pana to get some parts. He had been gone for about 35 minutes before returning to the building and noticed the smoke in the sky and found out it was their building. Thick, dark smoke could be seen from several miles away, including on Illinois Route 29.
Once the fire was under control, Bland said a track hoe was brought in to pull the metal roof off and the sides out so firemen could get to the fires still burning inside.
There were no injuries according to the Chief and Bland said firemen were on the scene for about four hours.
