Cattle are rescued from an enclosure next to a barn fire on Hwy. 35 just north of Lindsay Thursday, May 16. JASON BAIN/The Lindsay Post
Charley-Marie (Moynes) Munro says there isn’t enough thanks for everyone in the community who has stepped after fire destroyed her parent’s home and dairy farm last Thursday.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” she said. “The amount of support we’ve received is overwhelming.
The home is owned by Munro’s parents, Ron and Annette Moynes. Her brother Andrew also lived there.
The fire at 3363 Hwy. 35 was reported about 1:29 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 when firefighters were dispatched from halls in LIndsay, Cameron and Oakwood.
Crews arrived to find the barn bully ablaze. The flames soon reached the nearby brick farmhouse, where firefighters then concentrated their efforts.
As the fire continued, crews from halls in Ops, Woodville, Janetville and Omemee were called in. The Fenelon Falls hall provided the light air truck and the Burnt River hall was on hand with the refreshment truck.
Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue platoon chief Terry Jones said the Office of Ontario Fire Marshall, was called in to investigate, has ruled the cause as undetermined.
Total damage between the barn and house was estimated at $1.5 million.
Munro said her family “is doing okay” and her parents and brother are staying with relatives.
Her grandfather, who was taken to hospital after his efforts to save the family’s dairy cattle, is “now home and doing good.”, she added.
Speaking again of the support of community, said as the fire was raging, she noticed there was hole in the fence where the cattle could escape.
“I was just screaming ‘there’s a hole in the fence’, and people just came pouring in to help us close the gap,” she said.
She estimated that her parents lost 90% of their possessions, however, they were able to recoup some sentimental items.
Her mother had seven rings that she used to always wear, Munro said, which unfortunately were left on a dresser in her parent’s room, which was gutted during the fire.
However, she said two kind firefighters dug through the remains and were able to find four of the rings.
A fellow farmer, Larry Simms, has taken in the family’s cattle herd for milking.
Unfortunately, four calves perished in the fire.
City of Kawartha Lakes fire Chief Mark Pankhurst said high winds hampered the firefighters’ efforts.
Smoke often engulfed the barn, with a massive plume blowing southeast across the highway towards Lindsay.
Smoke could be seen from downtown LIndsay and its odour could be detected in the north ward.
“It was a major problem,” Pankhurst said, noting that despite the large amount of smokes no firefighters had to be treated on scene.
Hwy. 35 was closed between Thunder Bridge Rd. and Kenrei Rd. while firefighters battled the blaze.
Munro said many people have stepped up with efforts to help with donations and fundraising for her parents.
Her grandmother is a organizing a benefit dance on June 22 and Moynes Munro said she would be opening a trust account today
Source: The Post
