By Mark McCoy
Ellsworth County Independent Reporter – November 28, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – December 4, 2013
A fire that consumed a barn and damaged the siding of a house and nearby garage late the afternoon of November 20 in Geneseo, became a police investigation after it was discovered that William Frederick, owner of the barn, was using a cutting torch to cut up a stolen ATV trailer to sell as scrap metal.
At the scene the day of the fire, Geneseo Fire Chief Mike Huggans said Frederick was cutting metal with a cutting torch and had gone into the house when he finished. About 20 minutes later, his children informed him the barn was on fire.
The alarm was sounded at about 4:30 p.m. Units of the Geneseo, Rice County and Ellsworth fire departments responded to the blaze. The fire damaged siding on the owners’ house and a neighbor’s garage. The barn burned to the ground and the fire was extinguished by 5 p.m.
“The Geneseo firefighters did a good job fighting this fire,” said Ellsworth Fire Chief Bob Kepka.
The remains of the ATV and trailer were discovered in the west end of the shed and identified as stolen property by a vehicle identification number during the fire investigation, said Rice County under-sheriff Cody Goforth.
Goforth said Fredrick was arrested November 21 for possession of stolen property.
The investigation continues.
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