Township fire chief John Osborne said five area fire departments and about 35 firefighters were called to a fire on Tuesday that destroyed a barn on Wellington Road 29, just north of Wellington Road 124.
Firefighters from Guelph, Guelph-Eramosa, Centre Wellington, Puslinch and Erin responded to the fire at around 11:30am on Sept. 2.
“It was fully involved when we got there,” Osborne told the Advertiser.
Five tankers were used to fight the fire, with water supplied from Rockwood and pumped into mobile reservoirs set up on the county road.
Firefighters managed to rescue 10 to 15 animals from the barn that housed 50 dairy cows and 40 heifers.
“As the barn was about to collapse they were able to get the last animals out,” Osborne said.
No one was injured in the blaze and no livestock was lost.
Area farmers were quick on the scene to offer assistance to Scott and Katrina Gordon, who watched as the fire destroyed their barn. Osborne said the couple is well known in the township and are third generation farmers.
“I was in the barn feeding the cows salt,” a visibly distraught Scott Gordon said as firefighters worked at containing the fire.
“I have no idea what time it started. I guess I noticed it a couple of minutes before I called 911.”
He speculated the fire may have started in a hay loft, but Osborne said officially the cause of the fire is “undetermined.”
Osborne estimates the loss at about $1.5 million.
The Ontario Fire Marshall was not called in because the fire was not deemed “suspicious,” said Osborne.
All firefighters could do at the scene was protect nearby silos and a building where machinery was stored. Several neighbours helped remove machinery near the barn.
Scott Gordon said he received requests from neighbours to assist with corralling the animals and finding different locations to house them.
Osborne said two barns north of where the fire occurred were also being used to house the livestock. The barns were recently vacated after arming operations there were discontinued.
“I know they were milking last night around 8pm and 8:30pm,” Osborne said of the temporary location for the animals. “That was a blessing in disguise.”
OPP media relations officer Cheri Rockefeller said despite the tragedy, she was amazed by the number of neighbours and friends offering assistance.
Wellington Road 29 was closed to traffic for most of the afternoon while firefighters worked on hot spots.
