Cows die in barn fire
PENN TWP — A barn fire on the 200 block of Rockdale Road killed three cows and burned another early Monday morning.
Multiple departments were called just after 7 a.m. to 242 Rockdale Road for an active structure fire.
Before they arrived, property owner Paul Hancheck received a call from neighbors alerting him to the fire, and he rushed down to save the animals inside the barn.
“The barn was full of smoke,” Hancheck said. “I got seven (out).”
Two female cows and a bull calf died, and another cow had burns to its face and body.
“One got scorched pretty good,” Hancheck said. “He's in rough shape, but he's alive.”
Penn Township Fire Chief Bill Glace said his department was first on the scene.
“Half the barn was on fire,” Glace said. “We pulled a line around the back and made entry.”
Glace said that after making entry a few machines needed to be moved out of the barn. He said the flames were knocked down a little more than 30 minutes after they arrived.Crews remained at the scene for hours sifting through wet hay and hitting hot spots. Each pile of hay brought a new burst of steam and smoke.Glace said the building remains structurally sound and is salvageable.A cause for the fire was not known.Hancheck said he might be able to save about one-third of the 50-year-and one year later the current barn was built on the same site.“I was standing in the same place then,” Hancheck said. “I was 6 years old, watching it burn last time.”
Along with the three cows, Hancheck said he lost most of his hay bales, which he estimated to be between 10 and 15. He said he will continue to take care his 22 remaining cows.“Naturally, if you lose any animal, it hurts you,” he said. “It counts.”Assisting Penn Township firefighters were Butler Township, Herman, Saxonburg, Middlesex Township, Buffalo Township and Sarver fire departments. Penn Township Police and Butler Ambulance were also supporting at the scene.Glace said there were no human injuries associated with the fire.
