Barn fires continue to plague Ontario farms
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
Another barn has been destroyed as a result of a fire on a southern Ontario farm.
The latest blaze happened Thursday night on a farm in Flamborough.
Claudio Mostacci, spokesperson for Hamilton Fire, told The Hamilton Spectator the fire started around 8 pm at 165 Concession Rd. E. and that the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) has been called in to help determine the cause of the fire.
According to Mostacci, there were no livestock in the barn but a metal roof keeping the flames inside the barn challenged firefighters.
At around 11 pm Thursday night, fire crews were still on scene and will hold it until the OFM arrives.
Barn fires have become a recurring theme on Ontario farms in 2016 with Thursday’s fire bringing the total to 11.
Ontario barn fire timeline (latest to earliest):
Mar. 26 – Barn fire on Maryhill Road near the Ariss Valley Golf and Country Club takes the lives of 45 cattle with damage estimated at $500,000.
Feb. 25 – 300 hogs lost in a barn fire near Listowel and 70 dairy cattle perish in a separate fire near Brockton, Ontario. The Brockton fire’s damage is estimated at $500,000.
Jan. 23 – 200 pigs are lost in a fire near Stratford.
Jan. 19 – Parkhill barn fire claims 2,000 pigs and damage is estimated at $1.1 million.
Afternoon of Jan. 17 – Six tractors and other equipment destroyed in Flamborough barn fire
Morning of Jan. 17 – 500 milking goats and nearly 30 cattle die in barn fire near Delaware.
Jan. 16 – Empty barn burns in Georgetown.
Jan. 14 – 13 Arabian horses killed in a barn fire in Mount Forest.
Jan. 5 – 43 Standardbred horses killed in a Puslinch barn fire.