EAST PHARSALIA – Sixth-generation Newton Farms - Officially known as Balsam View Farms – on Newton Road, just off County Highway 7 in the town of Pharsalia saw a large portion of their dairy reduced to ash late Wednesday afternoon.

Fire companies from seven area departments spanning two counties assisted in controlling the blaze that cut a devastating swath through the center of the 210-year-old Farm's operation that produced upward of ten tons of raw milk weekly.

According to Pharsalia Fire Chief Ken Granger, it's believed that the fire originated in the second story of the dairy’s main barn structure - above the milking parlor.

“Milkers were in the middle of evening chores when they discovered that the building was on fire,” said Granger. And while investigators are still unsure of cause, Granger would go on to say that the hay-mow had not been stocked with new forage this year.