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.
While no injury to humans was reported during the incident, a friend of the Newton Family on scene indicated that approximately 70 of Balsam View's estimated 300 milking stock were overcome by the blaze.
Chenango County Dispatch records indicated that the first call on the incident came in just a few minuted before 4 p.m., and upon arrival of the first units to the scene the main structure of the dairy was fully involved.
Smoke and flames from the barn were so significant that they could be seen for miles, as far away as McGraw and Plymouth - even registering on doppler radar.
Among the various departments who responded, City of Norwich Fire, McDonough, Preston, Smithville, South Otselic, Cincinnatus along with the County Bureau of Fire and several department auxiliary members assisted Pharsalia command at the scene into the night.
It was reported that after an initial defensive attack to save the Newton family’s home by first on the scene was successful, efforts then turned to controlling the fire as outdoor temperatures climbed into the 80s. Firefighters said that two other structures behind the barn were damaged as well.