Fire hits Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto, killing 11 newborn and mother goats
MODESTO – Several animals died after a fire broke out at Dutch Hollow Farms, a popular family attraction in Modesto.
The fire, which was reported a little after 11 p.m. Sunday, destroyed the farm's sales barn.
No other buildings caught fire, the farm says, but several animals died – including Zazu, the newest mother goat who just gave birth to quadruplets.
In total, 11 goats died in the barn fire, including three mothers and eight babies.
Dutch Hollow Farms told CBS13 Monday that on a normal night, the animals would have never been in this particular barn. They were moved here to keep the babies warm due to the recent cold temperatures.
"You wake up out of a dead sleep and this is just something we never would have expected in a million years," said the farm's owner, John Bos, of the freak accident.
Bos believes the barn fire sparked due to a heat lamp meant to keep the babies warm that was likely knocked over by one of the animals.
His family farm has been a Modesto staple for four decades, an agritourism hub serving up family fun to generations of customers every spring and fall.
The loss of the barn and animals was a heartbreaking shock to Bos.
"It's just really, really hard," he said. "There's a lot of memories in this barn. I grew up here. To erase all those years? It's a tough pill to swallow."
It's one unimaginable loss after the other, as the farm's founder, Bos' father, also recently passed away.
"We'll pick up, we'll rebuild. It's just going to take time. And I'm not afraid of the work," said Bos.
Even amid the chaos of it all, comes a reminder that there's still hope and new life. A baby goat was born Monday to a surviving mother goat, just hours after so many died.
The farm is just three weeks out from one of it's most popular attractions in the year, Baby Animal Days. They host the event starting in March every year to bring the community out to meet the farm's tiniest additions.
It will go on as planned this year, though things might look a bit different.
A flood of support so far from neighbors both near and far has encouraged Bos, through an outpouring of kind words from hundreds on social media and ticket sales, too.
"Someone already bought up 50 tickets to our Baby Animal Days, one person. Just, wow," said Bos. "I always feel like my heart has been in the right place for the community. So for the community to give back to me? It means a lot."
Dutch Hollow Farms is warning people that they haven't established any GoFundMe page, and any seen online are a scam.
Instead, they're telling people the best way to support the farm is simply by buying tickets to their upcoming Baby Animal Days, which kicks off on March 18 and runs through April 16.
Tickets are only 10 dollars and can be purchased on their website.
