WHATELY — No animals were injured in a small barn fire that was quickly extinguished Friday afternoon.
“Thankfully, we have a really nice neighborhood and one of the neighbors called it in right away,” said Christine Strzegowski, owner of the red barn at 39 Laurel Mountain Road.
Fire Chief John Hannum said the call came in at around 2:15 p.m.
“We came here and found smoke in the building,” Hannum said. “We found out the fire was on the floor and extended into the hayloft. They worked at knocking it down with buckets and (finished) with a hose.”
Because the department responded to an area outside the water district, five tankers and three or four engines were called, Hannum said. An ambulance and Eversource also responded.
Hannum said the fire was started by one of the animals knocking down a heat lamp. Strzegowski said it likely was either a turkey or a chicken that knocked it over. Two pigs were also in the barn.
The fire caused minimal damage, according to both the chief and the property owner.
“The guys did a good job,” Hannum said. “It was a good save.”
Although most were quickly dismissed, Hannum said Williamsburg, Hatfield, Sunderland, South Deerfield, Montague, Old Deerfield and Conway were the other departments called to the scene.