This Fairgrove Township barn, on the southwest corner of Gilford and Kirk roads, was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon. Though the blaze killed some cattle, most survived, including those at left, after being freed from the barn.
By Tom Gilchrist
Staff Writer
FAIRGROVE TWP. — A fire here on Thursday afternoon destroyed a barn, killing some beef cattle and causing minor injuries to oneperson, according to firefighters.
Firefighters from seven departments battled the 2 p.m. blaze in the barn owned by Kirk and Cynthia Dinsmoore at 5509 W. Gilford Rd., according to Fairgrove Fire Chief Doug Young.
Responders freed “a vast majority” of the cattle, Young said. While some cattle remained near the burning barn, about 12 others ran free in a group after the fire, heading through farm fields near Gilford Road. Volunteers in automobiles, or riding all-terrain vehicles, tracked the animals so they could be captured, according to firefighters.
“Various farmers came and rounded them up and loaded them in trailers and took the cattle to their farms to house them,” Young said. “It was a real good response by the community.”
Young said he hasn’t determined the total number of cattle at the time of the fire in the barn, which he said was insured.
Firefighters believe the blaze may have started near a propane heater inside the barn on the southwest corner of the intersection of Gilford and Kirk roads.
Young said one of the Dinsmoores’ sons had minor burns to his hand due to the fire, but wasn’t hospitalized.
The last firefighters left the scene about 11 p.m. Thursday, Young said. The blaze didn’t damage a house south of the barn, despitenorth winds throughout the day.
“The wind wasn’t as strong at the time of the fire as it was later in the evening,” Young said. “The good Lord was looking out.”