Total loss: Over 90 animals killed in West Bend barn fire; cause remains under investigation

WEST BEND (WITI) --  Fire crews from several departments on Thursday night,  March 5th were on the scene of a barn fire in the Town of West Bend.

According to officials, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a barn fire on the Meadow Brook Orchard property located at 2970 Mile View Road around 10:57 p.m.

Authorities say the property owner was awoken by the 911 caller who was a passerby who saw the smoke and flames coming from the barn. The property owner went outside and began evacuating his animals, however, the fire quickly spread out of control.

The West Bend Fire Department was dispatched along with Washington County Sheriff’s deputies. The first arriving units found the barn to be totally engulfed with flames.

Firefighters battled the blaze in single-digit temperatures for several hours before getting it under control. The West Bend Fire Department was assisted by the Allenton, Boltonville, Fillmore, Jackson, Kewasksum, Kohlsville, Newburg and Slinger Fire Departments. The Washington County Highway Shop assisted in salting the surrounding roads which quickly became ice covered and slippery from the tankers loading and transporting water to the scene.

The barn consisted of two separate buildings that had a total square footage of approximately 2300 square feet. The barn and its contents are being considered a total loss. A damage estimate is not available at this time.   There were over 90 animals that perished in the fire. They were mostly rabbits, chickens, ducks, emu, and four bull calves. A significant amount of the farm's Halloween props and decorations were also lost in the blaze.

No one was injured in the fire.

The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the West Bend Fire Department.