Animals Die In Canton Barn Fire

CANTON - A Wednesday evening barn fire claimed the lives of several goats and cows, tearing through a barn and an outbuilding before firefighters from 16 area departments could extinguish the blaze.

Neighbors called 911 at 8:20 p.m. after noticing smoke and flames at the Sergi family farm near 580 Sykes Road in the town of Canton, then reportedly raced to the scene to help coax frightened horses and other animals from the burning structure.

A number of horses were saved, according to members of the Sergi family, but at least two cows and some goats were presumed lost.

Canton Fire Chief Mike Dalton said by the time fire crews arrived the entire back section of the barn was engulfed in flames.

"It was going pretty strong when we got here," Mr. Dalton said. "You could see the flames shooting up into the sky from halfway down the Sykes Road."

Fire Police closed the Sykes Road and the nearby Morley-Potsdam Road to traffic to allow emergency crews from Canton, Morley, Madrid, Pyrites, Rensselaer Falls, Lisbon, Potsdam, Heuvelton, Dekalb, West Potsdam, Norwood, Norfolk, Waddington, Pierrepont, Parishville and Colton fire departments to access the scene.

Several pumping spots were designated in swampy areas along the Morley-Potsdam and Sykes roads, on the Grasse River near Buck's Bridge and at the Canton Fire Station, firefighters said.

An excavator was used to knock down the burning walls of the structure, which Mr. Dalton said allowed crews to extinguish the flames and better contain the smouldering debris. Even after the flames were extinguished, clouds of thick smoke filled the sky as firefighters doused the rubble.

The livestock barn and a nearby outbuilding were completely destroyed by the blaze, but firefighters were able to save a nearby horse barn.

Crews were still on scene and an investigation into the cause of the blaze was under way as of press time last night.

"There has been no personal injury that I know of," Mr. Dalton said around 10:30 p.m. "We're going to be here a while."

The Canton Rescue Squad and local police agencies also assisted on scene.