Smoke could still be seen rising high above the ashes of a barn in Floradale hours after firefighters left the scene Monday morning. A barn and tractor were destroyed by the fire, which caused $475,000 in damage.
Some 60 firefighters from the Floradale, St. Jacobs, Elmira and Conestogo fire stations responded to an alarm at 12:51 a.m. When they arrived, the barn at 2319 Floradale Rd. was already fully engulfed. The flames and heat were so intense that additional fire tanker support was needed from the St. Clements and Drayton fire departments. Firefighters on the scene worked hard at protecting the remaining exposed buildings, including a house and smaller barn.
More than 200 head of cattle were quickly led out of the barn, but five were lost due to the fire: two perished in the blaze and three others had to be put down due to injuries sustained, said Woolwich deputy fire chief Dale Martin.
It took close to two hours to gain control of the fire and crews stayed on the scene until approximately 9:40 a.m. A couple of firefighters stayed behind to help the property owners monitor the scene as small pockets of fire could be seen among the timbers and debris of the structure. The rubble was expected to smolder for a couple days.
Embers fell as far as a half-kilometre away, near Floradale Public School.
The initial damage estimated at approximately $475,000 includes the loss of the barn, machinery, cattle and damage to the nearby buildings and vehicles.
“As of now the cause of the fire is still undetermined because of the amount of damage there was. It could take a couple of days before we find what started the fire,” said Martin.
Nobody was injured in the blaze.
