Posted: 1/25/05
Fire destroys barn
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
A barn at the Joyce and Helen Betz farm in section 25 of Sheldon Township was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning, January 18.
Joyce Betz discovered it at about 12:45 a.m. after hearing the pressure pump running in the house. She thought maybe some of her beef cows were drinking from the tanks, so she looked at the barn and saw a flicker of yellow above the milk house. She called 9-1-1 and reported the fire just before her phone lines went dead.
When the Caledonia Fire Department arrived, the building was fully engulfed, with flames coming out both ends, fire chief Chuck Gavin said the next day while dousing some hot spots.
Firemen concentrated on making sure the fire didnít spread to nearby hay bales and buildings. It was about six degrees below zero that night.
Caledonia fire trucks hauled about 10 tankers of water to the fire. The Houston Fire Department brought two loads also.
Gavin guessed that the fire was electrical in origin because flames were the hottest near the electrical panel in the milk house. The barn was not being used for milking anymore, so no livestock was inside. But Joyce Betz is worried that some of the fat cows may have inhaled a lot of smoke because they were in a pen north of the barn. ìWe didnít lose any cattle, yet,î she said the next morning while sitting at her kitchen table.
The barn was in good shape, Joyce Betz said. It had been straightened and re-roofed in recent years, with new windows and siding on the south side, and a new east end. It held about 500 bales of hay, some machinery and lots of tools. The milk line was still in the barn too. Joyce said she used the milk house daily, because it held a hot water heater.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com