Fire burns Valley Home barn, but crews keep it from spreading

A fire that started from an apparent electrical problem all but destroyed a barn, but the work of three agencies kept it from causing further damage on a blustery Tuesday afternoon.

The Oakdale Fire Protection District, Oakdale Fire Department and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District all responded to a the 2:25 p.m. call to a barn fire at 10601 Arbini Road in Valley Home just north of the city.

When firefighters arrived, they found the barn on fire and a downed power pole south of the building. They put up a barrier around the power pole and called PG&E.

With winds hovering around 40 mph, the fire spread to a nearby walnut wood pile and eucalyptus trees and was traveling south toward a propane tank. However, firefighters were able to cut it off, keeping the burned vegetation area to about one-quarter of an acre.

"It was a great cooperative effort," said Chief Lee Winton of the Oakdale Fire Protection District.

Winton said the barn was "pretty much a loss." He said there was damage to the contents, describing them as typical ranch equipment.