Firefighters from the Howick/Très-Saint-Sacrement Fire Department were called to a blaze that erupted shortly after 8 p.m. on February 3, at a dairy farm located on the Fertile Creek Road in Très-Saint-Sacrement.
“It was fully involved,” says Chief Kenneth McRae of the fire that destroyed a machinery shed which was located between the house and the barn. The shed contained multiple tractors and several wagons, including one loaded with soybean bales. A backhoe was brought in to pull the building apart “so we could get to the machinery and the straw inside,” says McRae, who admits the cold weather and blowing snow did not help the situation.
“It could have been worse,” he says, adding the barn was located a mere 50 yards from the shed. “There were no animals lost and no injuries,” he confirms.
The fire was brought under control by 11:30 p.m. and firefighters were able to leave the scene by 2:30 a.m.
All 28 firefighters from the Howick/Très-Saint-Sacrement department were on scene, while the Ormstown, Franklin, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, and Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois fire departments also responded to the call with tankers.
McRae suggests the cause of the fire was likely electrical. The damage is estimated at $250,000.
