Tragic fire at Malahide Dairy Farm

Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a fully involved structure fire at the Walker Dairy Farm on Talbot Line, Malahide, ON, at approximately 5:06pm last evening the 17^th of February, 2021.

Multiple fire crews from Malahide Fire and Bayham Fire were on scene fighting fully involved fires in the bulk milk storage barn, milking parlour, and farm office of the dairy farm. Malahide Fire advised that there were no farm personnel in the structure however there were approximately 70 cattle trapped in the milking parlour, with approximately 300 that had escaped to an outside pen, with an unknown number suffering from smoke inhalation. A local veterinarian attended the scene to treat or put down cattle as necessary. As of last evening it was estimated that approximately 100 head of cattle were lost as a result of the fire.

The fire was detected by a truck driver arriving to pick up a load of cattle at approximately 4:45pm and is believed to have started in the bulk milk storage barn. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is still under investigation. Damage and losses are estimated at five million dollars. No one was injured in the blaze.