BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin.BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin.
London

100 cows lost in barn fire near Aylmer

An estimated 100 head of cattle died after a barn fire in Malahide Township.

The Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police said fire crews were called to the Walker Dairy Farm on Talbot Line just after 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Crews battled the blaze that is believed to have started in a bulk milk storage barn, before spreading to the milking parlour and farm office of the dairy operation.

"Malahide Fire advised that there were no farm personnel in the structure however there were approximately 70 cattle trapped in the milking parlour, with approximately 300 that had escaped to an outside pen, with an unknown number suffering from smoke inhalation," police said in a news release issued Thursday. "A local veterinarian attended the scene to treat or put down cattle as necessary. As of last evening it was estimated that approximately 100 head of cattle were lost as a result of the fire."

No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $5-million.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is still under investigation.

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