Overnight fire destroys barn near Mitchell, Ont., dozens of pigs perish
Damage is estimated at $800,000 and officials are investigating the cause of a large overnight barn fire near Mitchell, Ont.
Emergency crews were called to the fully involved structure fire about 7 p.m. Tuesday on Perth Line 42, just west of Highway 23.
Once firefighters were on scene, the blaze had breached the roof, according to West Perth Fire Prevention Officer James Marshall.
“The structure was involved on the rear of the building,” he said. “It had breached through the roof and there was heavy smoke conditions blowing across the highway.”
Marshall said crews from seven area fire departments were on scene. The blaze took about five hours to put down. No one was hurt, but 22 pigs were lost.
“It was a very large fire,” said Marshall. “It had the potential to be twice as big. We brought in resources we needed to ensure we were out of there as quickly as possible and that as minimal damage was done at the building.”
The number of barn fires involving livestock in Ontario is trending down, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).The scene of a barn fire near Mitchell, Ont. as seen from the road, Jan. 18, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell / CTV News)OMAFRA West Region regional manager Dan Carlow tells CTV News that in the last 10 years, barn fires with loss of livestock averaged about 12 to 18 per year. That’s down from 24 to 36 in the decade prior. Carlow said there is now more focus on prevention.
“Now we’re seeing barns larger in structure with open air. Some of them with curtains instead of side walls. Less wood involved, so less material to burn,” says Carlow. “One thing that we’re seeing different is annual inspections. Fire prevention folks sometimes preview a barn and point out areas of risk and the producer can address those.”
And while insurance generally covers barn fires, Carlow said losses in livestock can still be devastating for farmers.
“The individual livestock that the farmer had raised and had become very attached to have now disappeared. Often times they’re losing genetics and it’s always hard to overcome,” he said.
In the meantime, investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the Mitchell area fire.
Marshall said it is not considered suspicious.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.