On May 27th, the Silverton Fire District responded on a barn fire in the 900 block of Drift Creek Rd. NE. This structure is located in Marion County south of the City of Silverton.
When units arrived on scene, they found that the large barn was fully involved with fire and an immediate fire attack and exposure protection operation commenced. Multiple fire engines and tenders from Silverton, Sublimity, Aumsville and Mt. Angel responded to the fire to assist with suppression and overhaul operations. No firefighter or civilian injuries occurred.
Unfortunately, all the livestock in the barn were killed by the smoke and heat of the fire. The livestock belonged to Morgan Yates and was valued at more than $15,000. In addition to the livestock, approximately $60,000 worth of farm implements was also consumed in the fire.
A majority of Ms. Yates livelihood came from the livestock that perished and the farm implements that were destroyed and unfortunately, the structure and its contents were not insured against fire loss.
The fire investigation has been completed and the cause is being listed as undetermined, not suspicious and likely to be electrical in nature.