Peachtree – Calls went out for several departments to respond to a commercial structure fire involving a barn at 3:20 p.m. Feb.14 at Hoggy Doggy Farms on Mission Road.
Peachtree Fire & Rescue – as well as the Murphy Volunteer Fire Department, Clay County Fire & Rescue and Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services – were all on the scene. The N.C. Forestry Service was also called in due to high winds at the time of the incident.
The barn – which housed goats, dogs and pigs, as well as all the feed and supplies needed to take care of the animals – was a total loss.
“I saw smoke, and then the barn was on fire,” said Doria Burns, owner of Hoggy Doggy Farms. “This is a first for me. I don’t have any idea where I’m gonna put anything.”
Open areas of the property had numerous animals running around. One section had several goats grazing, while their babies were running around and jumping with one another, seemingly unaware of what was happening at the barn.
“I can’t find two of the babies,” Burns said. “My husband just got done adding the back section to the barn yesterday.”
Firefighters put plenty of water on the burnt barn to prevent a rekindle of the flames. Smoke lingered in the area for quite a while afterward.