Fire Destroys 150-Year-Old Barn, Kills 300 Animals
LIMA TWP. (WWJ/AP) - Authorities say a fire destroyed a 150-year-old wooden barn on a family farm near Ann Arbor, killing about 300 animals.
The fire broke out Wednesday at the farm in Lima Township, about 12 miles west of Ann Arbor.
Owner Douglas Welshans told AnnArbor.com a horse, a steer, about 200 rabbits, 50 hens and 50 chicks died in the fire, which reduced the barn to a pile of rubble. No one was injured.
He said his daughters planned to show some of the rabbits and chickens and the steer at the Washtenaw County 4-H show this summer. The horse was a mare named Tina and was a gift to the girls from another family.
Besides the animals and barn, Welshans said he lost hay equipment as well as cages and other various equipment.
Authorities say about 40 firefighters from Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Saline and Scio Township battled the blaze for about an hour.
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