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A fierce blaze engulfed a historic family farm on Long Island, demolishing its main barn and injuring several individuals who rushed in to rescue the animals, as reported by the police.
The catastrophic fire at Wells Farm in Northville, owned by a local family, claimed the lives of numerous animals. The incident triggered a significant response involving firefighters from six different departments and the Riverhead Police Department on Wednesday night.
Laura Wells, whose husband and son manage the daily operations of the East End farm, expressed the family’s heartbreak and uncertainty about rebuilding after witnessing the rapid destruction of their extensive, aged wooden barn.
“This is just devastating,” she shared with News 12 Long Island.
“I honestly don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Wells said that first responders and relatives sprinted into the burning building to pull out as many trapped animals as possible, saving 19 pigs, but two others perished alongside dozens of chickens before anyone could reach them.
“My two granddaughters ended up in the hospital trying to rescue the pigs,” Wells said.
“Thank goodness for the police and the firefighters. They helped us get the pigs out of there.”
One cop and both granddaughters were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.
Animal advocacy group, Humane Long Island, was called to the property to inspect the animals, many of which suffered burns, lacerations and heavy smoke exposure, they said.
A cause for the fire hasn’t been determined yet, but police said it does not appear to be a case of arson.