Dairy cattle lost in West Turin barn fire

CONSTABLEVILLE — About 50 cows and calves were killed in a Monday morning barn fire on Route 12 in the town of West Turin.

Constableville firefighters at 6:21 a.m. were called to the Terrance Miller Sr. farm, 2040 Route 26, near Mohawk Hill, and requested mutual aid from West Leyden, Turin, Lyons Falls and Boonville fire departments.

"When the Fire Department got there, the whole barn was fully involved," said Lewis County Fire Coordinator James M. Martin.

The blaze destroyed all but a small garage addition near the road, killing almost all the cattle inside and consuming about 5,000 bales of hay, he said.

Several animals were retrieved from the burning structure, Mr. Martin said. However, a veterinarian recommended they be killed, as well, because they had inhaled so much smoke and were unable to breathe properly, he said.

A passing motorist reported the blaze and alerted the family, Mr. Martin said.

There was insurance on the structure.

Mr. Miller's grandson has been operating the small farm, Mr. Martin said. The fire coordinator was uncertain if the family would rebuild.

The fire appeared to start near the milk house and may have been electrical, but the cause officially has been listed as undetermined, Mr. Martin said.

"It was an older barn," he said, noting that a few additions were constructed over the years.

The original dairy barn was built in 1900, according to Lewis County land records.

While the barn and the nearby farmhouse both received electricity through the same pole transformer, National Grid workers by 8 a.m. installed a second transformer to restore power and heat to the home, Mr. Martin said.

"They did a really good job for us," he said.

The state Department of Transportation and town of West Turin also sent crews to keep the road sanded, and a trackhoe from S&L Goodhines was used to clear debris.