Barn fire in western P.E.I. leaves 24 cattle dead

Twenty-four cattle died as a result of a barn fire Wednesday morning in Foxley River, just west of Tyne Valley. 

William Bishop, chief of the Tyne Valley Fire Department, said around 75 animals were inside the barn when the fire broke out.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at around 10 a.m. to find the structure engulfed in flames, Bishop said, and they tried to save as many animals as they could.

Nine cattle died in the fire, while others had to be euthanized due to the extent of their injuries. 

“The vet was called immediately… Some were euthanized on site before he got there, and then the rest were put down throughout today as we fought the fire,” Bishop said.

“Some were burnt pretty severe, so it was a pretty grim sight to see.”

P.E.I.’s fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Bishop said the barn itself was only four years old. It’s located on the same dairy farm that lost a barn to fire in 2017, though the owners have changed.