An estimated 800 head of cattle were killed when fire tore through a dairy farm fire near Steinbach early Monday.
The Steinbach Fire Department were called to Pennwood Dairy Inc northeast of Steinbach, around 4:42 a.m.
Kelvin Toews, chief of the Steinbach Fire Department said three barns were burning when crews first arrived but the flames spread to a fourth, and all four were destroyed.
He said there were roughly 1,000 animals in the barns, and around 200 were rescued.
The Steinbach Fire Department was joined by six other local fire departments to help fight the fire.
“Anytime you’re fighting a rural fire, you’ve got water issues,” said Toews.
“Getting adequate water is always tough, that’s why we called in all the other departments to assist us.”
Toews said most of the fire was under control shortly after 11 p.m., but crews remained at the scene dealing with hot spots.
He said all the people inside the barns at the time of the fire were able to get out safely.
The fire came as the dairy farm was reportedly preparing to expand its herd to 1,700 cattle.
The fire commissioner is investigating the cause of the fire.
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