The outpouring of support shown for an Admaston/Bromley family who lost several animals in a barn fire Jan. 8 shows just how great the Ottawa Valley is, says the township’s fire chief.
Lorraine Hamilton and her husband Brian, Deputy Mayor of Admaston/Bromley Township, lost 14 rabbits, two pigs, two beef calves and a llama in the blaze, which also destroyed the heritage barn on their property on Barr Line.
“It was a very old building, very dry tinder, it went in a hurry” said Douglas Fire Chief Bill McHale. “There were a couple of surrounding structures – a small barn on the west side and a lean-to built off of it – we focused on saving those.”
Eighteen firefighters and all four vehicles from the Douglas department attended, along with trucks and personnel from Whitewater Region’s Cobden station, which provides first response to the address as part of an existing agreement.
County and township roads departments helped fire crews work the scene by salting roads and the yard as conditions became icy, said McHale.
He is sympathetic about the Hamiltons’ losses.
“People can say, they’re just rabbits but these animals become more than just a pet and Lorraine put a lot of time into these animals,” he said.
McHale said that right away there were offers to help and support the family.
“There was such an outpouring of support and people who showed up. There was nobody there being nosy, they were all there to see if they could help. It’s nice to see the community coming together. It just shows the spirit of the Ottawa Valley is still alive,” said McHale.
(Written by: Sherry Haaima)
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