Large barn fire in Herwijnen kills 30 sheep, injures two cows
A massive barn fire in Herwijnen early Saturday morning killed 30 sheep and left two cows injured. Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control just before 5 a.m. and have since started extinguishing remaining embers.
The fire broke out in a barn next to a residential home on De Mert in the Gelderland town, according to the regional safety authority. "The barn has been completely destroyed, and debris from solar panels has fallen into the adjacent pasture," the authority stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Due to heavy smoke, residents were initially advised to keep their windows and doors closed. That warning has now been lifted.
Authorities confirmed that no people were injured in the incident. However, the fire caused significant loss among the livestock housed in the barn. Two cows suffered broken legs in the fire.
Firefighters arrived at the scene quickly and worked to contain the blaze. Their efforts prevented the fire from spreading to nearby structures. However, the barn itself could not be saved. Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
