Seventeen farm animals lost in Upper Rawdon barn fire

Firefighters bunker gear and helmets hang. (Healey file photo)

UPPER RAWDON: Seventeen farm animals perished in a ravaging barn fire in Upper Rawdon on New Year’s Day

Shortly after 4 a.m., fire crews from Rawdon, along with mutual aid from 14 other East Hants, West Hants, and HRM stations were paged to the scene, on Bond Road Extension.

“We arrived on scene at the barn to it fully involved in fire,” said Rawdon Volunteer Fire Deputy Chief Jimmy Robinson.

Between 35 to 40 firefighters from units including Rawdon; Gore; Kennetcook; Nine Mile River; Shubenacadie; Mount Uniacke; Brooklyn; Summerville; Noel; Maitland; Windsor; HRM Station 10 (Sackville); HRM Station 48 (Beaver Bank); and HRM Station 50 (Hammonds Plains) were on scene.

East Hants RCMP; N.S. Public Works; EHS; and N.S. Power also attended.

Robinson said there were 13 head of cattle; two horses; and two goats that died in the fire.

He said firefighters were on scene for close to six hours and two other buildings nearby could have been taken out if fire crews hadn’t responded as quick as they did.

Robinson said firefighters did face some difficulties fighting the fire.

“Upon arrival the steel roof was collapsed on the barn,” said Robinson. “There was also ice around on the ground.”

He wished to thank those who prepared the breakfast for the firefighters at the Rawdon hall.

“I would like to add a big thank you to the ladies and gents that went to our fire hall and prepared a wonderful breakfast for all the firefighters after they were released from the fire ground,” he said.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, said Robinson.