Fire destroys barn near Guelph but horses saved

Tractor thought to be the culprit of a barn fire near Guelph, Ontario

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

It wasn’t a typical day for the Walker family who lost their barn in a fire on the Family Day holiday, Monday.

More than 20 firefighters from three different departments including - Guelph, Fergus and Rockwood were called to a barn fire shortly after 7a.m. on Monday near Guelph, Wellington Road 30.

The property is owned by Walkerbrae Farms and farm operator Jim Walker suspects that the fire began with the tractor. Walker said that he had plugged in the tractor to make feed, and within minutes the tractor had caught on fire. Fire officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

It took four hours to control the fire, but there are still hot spots of hay that continue to smolder. Walker lost the barn, hay and three tractors - but managed to save his 10 horses.