A horse and several chickens were killed in a fire that damaged three barns at a property in Ottawa’s rural south end early Thursday morning.
The Ottawa Fire Services says it received a call from a homeowner at 12:45 a.m., reporting one of their large barns was on fire at the property in the 3000 block of 8th Line Road, south of Metcalfe, and the flames were spreading to nearby barns.
Officials say when firefighters arrived on scene, they confirmed, “there was heavy fire and multiple buildings were involved.”
Ottawa Fire Services public information officer Nick DeFazio says firefighters faced multiple hazards while battling a fire.
“Crews faced several hazards throughout the incident, including downed live hydro wires, fuel tanks located adjacent to the barns, and structural collapses,” DeFazio said.
“An aerial ladder was deployed to provide an elevated attack on the fire.”
DeFazio said the property owner was able to remove most of the animals from the barns before firefighters arrived.
“Unfortunately, one horse and several chickens perished in the fire,” DeFazio said.
The fire occurred in an area without hydrants, so tanker trucks were used to shuttle water from a nearby water source to the scene.
“Firefighters advanced multiple hose lines to attack the fire while simultaneously protecting nearby structures from the intense heat and flames,” DeFazio said.
“Embers carried by the wind ignited several small spot fires in surrounding hay and brush. A brush truck was dispatched to extinguish these fires and prevent further spread.”
No civilians or firefighters were injured in the fire. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to a home on the property.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
