Massive Barn Fire Destroys Structure at Froman Hill Boys Ranch in Dover Township
DOVER TWP. (WJER) (June 11, 2026) — A large barn housing workshops and livestock was destroyed in a late-night fire Tuesday at the Froman Hill Boys Ranch on Froman Hill Road near Zoarville.
Dover Fire Captain Joe Minocchi said the blaze appears to have started accidentally in a small shed containing a generator before quickly spreading to the nearby barn.
“There’s a shed out there that has a propane generator. There was some type of explosion there,” Minocchi said. “From there, the fire spread to some lumber that was behind a large barn, which then caught the large barn on fire.”
The barn, which contained both workspaces and animals, was fully engulfed. Minocchi explained that the upper level housed a wood and metal shop, while the lower level was used for livestock.
Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries were reported.
“No people or animals were injured,” Minocchi said. It is believed cows, chickens, and several horses had been inside.
Firefighters from 11 departments responded to the scene, many equipped with tanker trucks due to limited water access in the rural area.
“Most of it was for tanker operations,” Minocchi said. “There is no water supply out there or anything close, so the extra tankers were called to haul water.”
Some firefighters remained on scene for approximately six hours.
The investigation into the exact cause of the fire remains ongoing, but officials believe the incident was accidental.