Waterloo fire destroys bank barn, kills 2,000 hens

WOOLWICH — A barn fire destroyed a barn and killed 2,000 laying hens and three horses at a Mennonite farm in Woolwich Township, Waterloo Region, last month. The fire dealt at least $1 million in damages.

The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 at the farm northwest of Kitchener, said area fire chief Dale Martin. The farmers managed to throw open the gates of the bank barn and get 100 beef cattle out, but not the three horses or hens, Martin said. By the time they’d realized what was happening it was too dangerous to go inside the barn.

Firefighters focused on containing the blaze, which was fully involved when they arrived. The house and a nearby drive shed were exposed but not in any great danger thanks to the wind direction, he said.

As of Farmers Forum press time, a cause had not been determined, though the fire was not considered suspicious. Most barn fires in Ontario ultimately don’t have a cause determined.

Martin added that cleanup was underway by early December with rebuilding likely to start soon after.