Horses saved as Ottawa firefighters battle early morning blaze

MUNSTER – No livestock or people were injured during an early morning (April 23) two-alarm fire just south of Munster.

Ottawa firefighters continue to douse a two-alarm fire at a farm on Franktown Road near Dwyer Hill.

A string of 911 calls summoned firefighters to Franktown Road between Dwyer Hill and Ashton Station roads starting at 7:57 a.m. Further calls alerted crews that the property included a mix of barn and residential building and hangers.

Flames were visible at 8:05 a.m. and eyewitnesses said they could see the smoke from Highway 417.

Ottawa Fire Service (OFS) fire crews arrived on the scene just after 8 a.m. to find a few out-buildings on the property were in flames, including a barn, home and equipment hangar.

A second alarm was called at 8:23 a.m. as crews reported that the fire was spreading quickly.

Officials say the barn housed horses, but all livestock escaped and are safe. All people made it out of the home safely as well.

As of 9 a.m., crews were still working on containing the fire to protect other buildings in the area. Heavy fire suppression equipment was needed.

As of about 9:45 a.m., the fire department said that they had the blaze “nearly knocked down.”

Firefighters had to shuttle water from a fill site on Lakewood Drive. 

The fire was deemed under control at about 10 a.m. A dozen horses were safely corralled, and no one injured.

Once the fire is out, an investigation will get underway to determine what caused the fire and to figure out just how much damage was done.