Fire broke out early Tuesday morning, destroying a barn near Plainview with 400-500 cows inside. On Wednesday the property owner was still counting the cattle he lost in the blaze.
The fire started just after 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Ten fire trucks and about 22 firefighters from Plainview and Kellogg all battled the massive blaze on the 58000 block of County Road 14 near Plainview.
“Approximately 500 dairy cows in that barn. Most of them got out. Some of them were trapped,” said Ed Jacobs of the Plainview Fire Department. “Big glow orange glow when we left town. You could see it from Plainview, so we called Kellogg right away for tankers.”
Originally firefighters said at least six dairy cows trapped inside the barn died, and many suffered from smoke inhalation. On Wednesday, property owner Bill Gilsdorf said 200 cattle were able to be saved. At least 30 did not make it.
The flames also cut off the power to the property, and crews were working to restore it. The barn is considered a total loss.
Fire officials said fires this large don’t happen often, and they had to let it burn itself out because there was nothing else they could do.
The Fire Marshal was contacted and is investigating the cause of the fire. Investigators believe it started in the milking area.
Thankfully, no one was hurt in the blaze.
