Nine fires have hit Ontario farms in 2016
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
In the first few months of 2016, nine barn fires have struck Ontario farms, causing millions of dollars of damage.
In addition to the financial implications, approximately 300 tons of farm animals have been lost as a result of the blazes.
The Ministry of Agriculture told CBC on March 3 the number is higher than the 225 tonnes of farm animals lost in all of 2015, but the numbers could be skewed as the ministry will only send assistance when there is 2,500 kg of carcasses or more.
Last year, the Province removed carcasses from 16 fires, up nearly four times from 2013; they’ve already been requested 11 times this year.
Jeff Leal, Ontario’s Agriculture Minister, said the province is involved in more barn fire scenarios, but doesn’t subscribe to the theory that more regulations or investigations are necessary.
“We rely on the fire marshal’s office in the province of Ontario,” he told CBC. “They’re a very dedicated, very experienced group and they leave no stone unturned when they do the investigation of these fires.”
Ontario barn fire timeline:
- Jan. 5 – 43 Standardbred horses killed in a barn fire in Puslinch
- Jan. 14 – 13 Arabian horses killed in a barn fire in Mount Forest
- Jan. 16 – Empty barn burns in Georgetown
- Morning of Jan. 17 – Barn fire near Delaware kills 500 milking goats and nearly 30 cattle
- Afternoon of Jan. 17 – Six tractors and other equipment destroyed in a barn fire in Flamborough
- Jan. 19 – Barn fire in Parkhill kills nearly 2,000 pigs. Damages estimated at $1.1 million
- Jan. 23 – Barn fire near Stratford claims nearly 200 pigs
- Feb. 25 – 300 hogs lost in a barn fire near Listowel and 70 dairy cattle perished in a fire near Brockton, Ontario. The Brockton fire was estimated to cause more than $500,000 worth of damage