While the Nigh family of Lirr Farms in rural Viroqua, WI lost a barn in a fire on Sunday night, they were thankful to family, friends, neighbors and emergency responders for coming to their aid.
Robert and Betty Nigh had a fire at their Co. N farm which was called in Sunday at 10:22 p.m. Many area fire departments came to provide mutual aid at the scene with the Wheatland Fire Department being the initial department dispatched.
Robert Nigh said the family was able to get most of the animals out of the barn, with only four still unaccounted for as of Tuesday morning.
“We were very fortunate we didn’t lose a lot more,” Robert said. “We’re also very, very, very fortunate in where we live to have such good friends and neighbors come to our aid and help us during such a difficult time.
“All of the fire departments did a wonderful job,” Nigh continued. “We’re devastated, but fortunate nobody was hurt.”
Insurance investigators are still checking the scene although Nigh said the likely cause of the fire was a skid steer in a hay mow.
The barn was a total loss.
Nigh said his son and brother were both checked at Vernon Memorial Healthcare for smoke inhalation injuries, but released.
By Matt Johnson
Source: Vernon County Broadcaster