100 dairy cows die in $1m barn fire in Canada
At least 100 cows have died after a fire ripped through a barn on a farm in Ontario, Canada, causing damages of an estimated CAD1m (£550,000).
Firefighters were called to Jobin Farms in Tecumseh, Ontario, at just after 6pm on Monday, 18 April. They found a barn consumed by flames and farmers desperately trying to herd cattle away from the barn.
OFM has been notified. Early estimates are in the millions. Nearly half of dairy cattle have perished in the fire. Follow up in the morning
— Tecumseh Fire 🇨🇦 (@TECFD) April 19, 2016
BARN FIRE @TECFD crews battle a large barn fire at a dairy farm on the 11th concession in Tecumseh,Ont @OPP_WR pic.twitter.com/M9V3BgqMK6
— PhotoJay (@JKryk) April 18, 2016
About 50 firefighters from departments in Tecumseh, LaSalle, Windsor, Lakeshore and Amhertsburg attended the fire.
Fire officials said it was started by a machine used to shred straw for cow bedding.
About 225 cattle were inside the barn when the fire started. But once word of the fire spread, about 50 local farmers went to the farm to help move animals to safety.
Neighbouring farmers assist in evacuating livestock as @TECFD and other depts. battle fire at the Jobin Dairy Farm pic.twitter.com/N9bGXXFjhY
— PhotoJay (@JKryk) April 18, 2016
Surviving cows have reportedly been transported to a nearby dairy farm.