WHITEWATER — An unknown number of farm animals may have perished Sunday in a large barn fire in the Town of Lima, Rock County, according to the Whitewater Fire and EMS Department.
Livestock, including cattle, sheep and goats, were inside the barn when the fire started, and at least some animals were able to escape, according to officials.
The barn and its contents are considered a total loss. The adjacent house and other storage buildings were not damaged.
Crews were sent out at approximately 6:25 a.m. to 8731 N Lima Center Road, about 6.5 miles southwest of the Whitewater Fire Station. The area is not served by fire hydrants.
Assistant Chief Ryan Dion said the barn was a traditional dairy barn used for housing livestock and storing hay. First responders found the building fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.
A mutual aid box alarm system (MABAS Box 12-3) was activated, bringing additional fire units from Walworth, Jefferson, and Rock counties to the scene.
Firefighters used an estimated 100,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze due to the large quantity of hay inside.
A final count of lost animals is unavailable due to the building’s collapse.
Authorities are excavating the site, and the cause and origin of the fire are under investigation. Dion stated that the fire is not considered suspicious. No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters.
Responding departments included Lauderdale-LaGrange, Darien, City of Delavan, Town of Delavan, Palmyra, Troy Center, Rome, Sullivan, Johnson Creek, Lakeside, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Elkhorn, East Troy, Janesville, and Lake Mills.
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