Large fire destroys barn near Alma

MAPLETON - A barn here was completely destroyed by fire on Thursday night.

"It was starting to already collapse when we arrived," said Centre Wellington deputy fire chief Jonathan Karn.

The owner of the farm, located on Sideroad 20 near Alma, called in the blaze at just after 8pm on April 9.

About 40 firefighters from the Centre Wellington and Mapleton departments focused on saving a nearby house, driving shed and a second barn.

"We really had to work to ensure those three structures didn't catch on fire," said Karn.

He added firefighters also had to be mindful of nearby diesel and propane tanks, all while battling very strong winds.

"The wind was not in our favour," he said, noting that was a big reason why the fire burned so quickly.

The owner was able to get all the cattle out of the barn, but a family member was treated on the scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries.

Tanker trucks shuttled water to the scene from a pond at Husky Farm Equipment in Alma. And an excavator was brought in to help ensure the fire was completely extinguished.

Fire crews left the scene at about 1:30am. They were called back to the property shortly after 5am, but Karn said there was just some smouldering in one corner of the rubble.

The blaze is not considered suspicious and the cause is likely electrical, Karn said, though Centre Wellington fire officials have yet to determine an official cause.

The damage is estimated at about $450,000, including the recently-renovated barn, hay and some equipment.