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A Little Britain Township farm was touched by tragedy for the second time in less than a week when an Amish teenager was killed Monday afternoon during a barn raising.
The 17-year-old male, who was not identified pending notification of his family, apparently fell while attempting to put a roof beam into place, according to emergency crews on the scene. The beam then fell onto the teen as he lay on the ground.
Robert Fulton Fire Company Assistant Chief Clair Nolt said as many as 30 people were working on the barn about 4 p.m. when the incident occurred.
"When you've got those heights involved, there are risks," Nolt said.
Several ambulance crews, including Wakefield Ambulance and a SkyCare medical helicopter, were called to the scene. The helicopter was recalled when the first responders found the teen nonresponsive.
Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said an autopsy is scheduled for this morning to determine if there were any other factors in the teen's death.
"I don't anticipate that we will find anything other than an unfortunate accident," Diamantoni said.
The incident occurred less than a week after more than 80 firefighters from Cecil County, Md., and Lancaster and Chester counties battled a two-alarm blaze that tore through the farm's original barn Wednesday afternoon at 55 Clendenin Road.
Wednesday's fire started when a belt on an exhaust fan overheated, igniting hay stored on the barn's second floor and causing damage estimated at $200,000.The barn was on a farm owned by Aaron and Anna Stoltzfus.
Firefighters said they had to use hand lines to put down the flames, which traveled quickly through the wooden structure. It took crews an hour and a half to bring the blaze under control.
Crews were able to contain the fire to the barn, saving two nearby silos and a milk house.
E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com
