Eighty cattle lost in fire at Wellington North dairy barn

WELLINGTON NORTH – Eighty cattle were lost and a large dairy barn destroyed in a fire here on July 31.

No firefighters or residents were injured in the blaze.

Firefighters from Wellington North, Grand Valley and Minto’s Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston stations responded to the blaze on Sideroad 5E in Wellington North.

Fire Chief Chris Harrow, director of fire services for Wellington North and Minto, said firefighters were called around 2:05am and the barn was “fully engulfed” when they arrived.

Approximately 40 firefighters were on scene for about five hours until the fire was totally suppressed.

A coverall building directly beside the barn was saved.

Two excavators were brought in to assist in extinguishing the fire. No final damage estimate is available but Harrow said the loss will be “well over $1 million.”

Harrow told the Advertiser that due to the level of damage no cause of the fire has been determined. However, he stated the fire is "not suspicious."