Firefighters from Lehigh and Berks counties battled a stubborn house fire June 12 at 8942 Steinsville Road, Lynn Township.

The fire broke out around 8 p.m. in a two-room schoolhouse, built in the 1800s.

According to Lynnport Fire Chief Clark Mantz, the owner of the home, Phillip Martin, had just finished mowing his lawn and had placed the hot lawn mower in a storage trailer next to the back of the schoolhouse, before he needed to leave for work.

Neighbors, Mantz said, reported seeing fire coming from the storage trailer before spreading to the house.

Lynnport, New Tripoli, Germansville and Kempton volunteer fire companies responded to the initial alarm.

Mantz called in a second alarm, which brought Weisenberg Township Fire Company’s tanker and aerial unit, along with Schnecksville and Neffs’ tankers.

Three Berks County units also brought tankers. These included Kutztown, Virginville and Lyons, Mantz said.

In all, 10 companies responded to the blaze, bringing out some 100 volunteer firefighters.

Cetronia Ambulance personnel brought the corps’ rehab unit and an ambulance.

Met-Ed electric assisted at the scene by shutting off power to the house,

The American Red Cross Lehigh Valley-Bucks Chapter offered assistance to Martin following the fire, said Loa Esquilín García, regional communication manager with the American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania.

Mantz said the schoolhouse was a total loss.

“The winds were out of control...40 to 50 mph winds,” Mantz said. “The winds didn’t help anything.

“The fire already had a good start before we got there.”

The fire was investigated by Lynnport Fire Marshal Irwin Hamm, also the assistant state police fire marshal, and nothing suspicious was found.

The fire was declared under control around midnight but crews were called out to the scene the next day at 8:23 a.m. when the fire rekindled.

Lynnport and New Tripoli responded. Germansville and Kempton fire companies were placed on standby.

Firefighters were able to leave at 9:19 a.m., Mantz said.

The fire chief asked to thank all the firefighters who assisted at the scene and personnel with Cetronia’s rehab unit for providing snacks and beverages to the firefighters.