Tobacco barns burn in Windsor Locks

[cinda]

The Associated Press
Updated: 10/20/2009 03:55:52 PM EDT





WINDSOR LOCKS -- More than 100 firefighters battled a blaze that has destroyed several tobacco curing sheds in Windsor Locks on Monday. The fire broke out at one of the hulking barns on Rainbow Road around 4 p.m. on Monday.
Thick black smoke was visible for miles in the Connecticut River Valley.
Fox 61-TV reports that the fire quickly spread to neighboring sheds. Witnesses told WVIT they heard propane tanks explode.
It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze.
Since the 1830s, the tobacco barn - or curing shed - has been part of the Connecticut River Valley landscape. Farmers have been growing tobacco in the region since the early 1800s, and the sheds are needed to gently cure and dry tobacco leaves.
The leaves are used for the two outside layers of fine cigars -- the binder and the wrapper. ۩

[cigarsarge]

That will drive the prices of some cigars up.

[MarineOne]

Propane tanks. Sounds a little fishy .......



Kris

[ashauler]

Propane tanks. Sounds a little fishy .......



Kris

Ah, not really:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_barn

"To maintain ideal curing temperatures over the course of the curing process, farmers not only rely on the vents but on heat. While charcoal fires have been replaced in many barns with propane heaters, both methods help reduce moisture. "