A Facebook post captioned "fire at Frohning farm" sent The Ripple astride of Gladys out to gather the news. The post photo showed a large blaze but just where and what the inferno was couldn't be determined. My fears it was one of the Frohnings' dwellings were put to rest when I met Andy Werkhoven and learned the barn was the only casualty. "You missed all the excitement," Andy told me through the window of his truck. "Hard to sleep through all that commotion," I said. "I guess I'd better roll on out there before the news story cools off. "No one hurt, I hope?" "Nope," said Andy, "everybody's ok, but the barn's just a smoldering heap." Off I headed toward the flashing lights and the plume of smoke. On down the road Ginnifer Broers flagged us down to share the same news. She'd heard about a fire in the Valley and was returning to work after leaving her shift at Fred Meyers to check on Broers' Farms property.
Gladys and I wobbled to a stop where the fire rigs blocked the road. A fireman in full gear manned a hose, directing a forceful stream of water into the rising smoke. From time to time the arc of water drummed on a sheet of metal roofing. A few charred and smoking timbers, the only remaining forms vertical, stood forlorn in the smoke and spray. Roadside on the north access road Serena Kossian, one of the vendor's wives, with sons Jacob and Caleb waited for clearance to help husband Mike dismantle the display, pack and load his honey products. "They called us this morning and said to come get our stuff," she told me, a sure sign that Antique Tractor Show 2018 was now cancelled. The August show draws a large crowd and Mike and family who live in Sultan consider the venue a prime place to peddle their summer honey crop; most certainly a disappointment for Mike as his show sales this year, excepting day 1, unfortunately went up in smoke.
The Ripple snapped a few photos for this post, unsuccessfully tried to engage a couple of the fire crew in friendly banter, perhaps not the time and place as fire fighters' work is serious business, and left the crews to roll their hoses and store their gear. I had just donned my helmet when at the helm of a tractor and bucket rig, Matt Frohning rolled up the road. "I figured the news was bound to show up," Matt said, extending a big meaty hand and giving mine a hearty shake. "By the time I got here," he shared, "flames were shooting out the roof." Matt and family have had their share of bad luck, all of which they've shouldered with strong stoic resolve. The loss of the old barn and cancellation of the thirtieth annual Antique Tractor Show yet just another misfortune to buck up and weather. The Ripple's condolences to the Frohning family.
"Any idea what caused the fire?" I asked. "Not a backfire from one of the old "Poppin' Johnnies, I hope." Matt smiled, shook his head, "No, nothing like that. Probably something electrical. It's a very old barn, you know...." With that, The Ripple headed home to breakfast, saddened by the fact that for some time to come Elmer's Kitchen would no longer be serving up breakfast to the tractor show crowd.
