A Wednesday afternoon barn fire on the University of Minnesota-Crookston campus killed eight sheep.
According to the Crookston Fire Department, a heat lamp fell in the sheep facility and ignited straw. The fire was reported shortly after noon, and firefighters were able to get the blaze under control within 25 minutes.
UMC communications director Andrew Svec said the fire happened in the fully enclosed lambing room, one small part of a livestock barn on the north edge of campus.
"It was good thinking on the part of our faculty and staff that as much as they wanted to save the animals in the lambing room, they knew that if they opened the door the fire would get oxygen and spread," he said.
Instead, campus members waited until the fire department got the blaze under control before faculty and staff rushed the sheep to the nearby University Teaching and Outreach Center to try to save the animals.
ADVERTISEMENT
Svec said a total of eight sheep had died from smoke inhalation by Thursday afternoon, including four ewes and four lambs. Three other lambs that were in the room survived.
The Crookston Fire Department said the fire didn't damage the building structure, but did cause smoke damage to interior walls. The blaze is no longer under investigation because the source of the fire was apparent, officials said.
Svec said a contractor will be on campus today to tour the building and estimate the total amount of damage from the blaze.
"I think everybody will take a look at this and just heighten their awareness," he said. "But I don't believe that there was anything that was out of policy that would have caused this, and this would fall under the category of an accident."
Johnson reports on higher education. Reach him at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send e-mail to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
