Several departments battle barn fire in Hartford

HARTFORD (WITI) -- The Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a barn fire at 7236 Arthur Rd in the Town of Hartford shortly before 6 p.m. Friday, April 18th.

A property owner reported a tractor was on fire in the cow barn and there were cows inside. A second caller a few minutes later reported the barn was fully engulfed.

Hartford Fire Department responded, assisted by fire departments from Slinger, St. Lawrence, Allenton, Richfield, Woodland, Neosho, Iron Ridge, Ashippun, Stone Bank, Kohlsville and Lifestar Rescue.

Crews were on scene late Friday night extinguishing hot spots that were flaring up.

The barn is four structures that are connected. All of the structures were damaged, but three of the four structures are said to be a total loss.

Preliminary damage estimates exceed $1 million for the barn and equipment lost in the blaze.

One fire fighter suffered a minor injury during the operation. There were cows and calves inside the buildings during the fire. There were animals that perished in the fire and some that will need to euthanized, but at this time the amount is unknown.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but early reports suggest it started in a tractor and spread to the building.