A fast-moving fire has destroyed a key outbuilding at a joint farm animal sanctuary and dog rescue in Mono, resulting in significant equipment losses and prompting an urgent appeal for community support.
The blaze broke out in Fur-Ever Farm Canada’s garage and workroom on March 8, quickly consuming the structure and its contents. Embers from the farm’s maple syrup evaporator managed to slip out of the machine, igniting a blaze that completely destroyed the workshop and everything inside.
Ashley Andrews, founder of Fur-Ever Farm-Canada, said that it was a freak accident that produced a blaze unlike anything she had ever seen.
“Everything in the garage went up like a dried Christmas tree; it was horrible,” she said. “The flames were so big and so hot. It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen in my whole 40 years of being alive, I’ve never seen a fire like that.”
In an online statement on March 9, the organization informed its supporters that the damage was severe but that no one was injured, and it could have been much worse.
“Our garage and workroom caught fire, and we lost almost everything inside,” Fur-Ever Farm Canada and Fur-Ever Able Dog Rescue & Rehab said in a joint statement. “This space held our tools, lawn maintenance equipment, standby generators, and many of the items we rely on to keep the farm running every single day.”
While all people and animals were safely accounted for, the not-for-profit organization estimates more than $70,000 in losses related to tools and supplies alone, not including the building itself.
The destroyed building had recently undergone upgrades, including a new roof and hydro installation completed two years ago. The fire also damaged the hydro line and destroyed a puppy transport trailer.
Several essential pieces of equipment used in daily operations were lost, including tools, lawn maintenance machinery, and standby generators.
Thankfully, by luck, some heavy machinery was spared.
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