A huge fire at a barn in Boone County early Friday morning left several animals dead.
The flames broke out just before 3 a.m. Friday morning in the 4900 block of Burlington Pike. Several cows and pigs died in the fire but some livestock managed to escape.
Fire crews from Burlington, Hebron and Petersburg Fire Departments were called to help fight the fire. They say they could see the orange glow from the fire from the fire station, five miles away.
The blaze spread quickly, fueled by hay.
Subrina Craddock says, "I praise the Lord that he was safe." Craddock spent the day tending to her calf, France. He and three other Holstein calves escaped from their burning barn early this morning.
The crackling sound of the fire awakened Brandii Walton. "It was all in flames. Like I knew we knew we couldn't save anything so we just hoped for the best that some of the animals got out."
Some of the animals didn't make it. Seven week-old piglets, their parents, four bulls and two other calves died. The animals are part of a 4H project for Brandii and her friends. "We were going to do a lot with them so it kind of effects us but we still have the majority of them."
Somehow, some of the calves were able to escape from the barn and they weren't hurt. But one, Cummins, he actually suffered some burns and he may have a twisted ankle. "We just kind of put a little diesel fuel on it to help heal the burns."
Brooke Slage's calf, Turtle, made it out largely unscathed. But her other calf, George, died. She had planned to show them at the Boone County fair in August. "It's my whole life. I'm focused on it. I stopped doing basketball to do 4-H. I love it and I want to be a vet when I grow up so it will help me with my career."
The barn that burned was built in the 1890's. Most of the cow's harnesses and brushes were also destroyed.
For now... the girls are caring for the calves - to help the injured heal. "I just try to look at the bright side of things that God was watching out for us and none of us got hurt."
