Goats, chickens perish in barn fire near Fruitland

Five goats and a few chickens died Sunday afternoon during a barn fire in rural Cape Girardeau County.

About 3:30 p.m., Fruitland Area Fire Protection District received a call of a barn on fire with animals trapped inside.

When firefighting crews arrived, the barn was engulfed in flames, Fruitland fire chief Rob Francis said. He said firefighters from Millersville, East County and Gordonville assisted.

The barn was behind the home at 4023 County Road 435, just off Route FF, and was accessible only by the home's narrow driveway. Only Fruitland firetrucks pulled all the way up to the scene; other crews assisted from the road.

Homeowner Emily Scheper said her husband saw the flames after he got home from dropping off their daughter at basketball practice. He ran inside and yelled for her to call 9-1-1.

Emily and Doug Scheper watch as firefighers try to extinguish lingering flames in their barn after it was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon. (Savanna Maue)

Inside the barn were five goats and some chickens, Scheper said. The goats belonged to her daughter, who was at basketball practice. The goats had been raised by the girl since they were kids, she said.

The family fed the goats at 11 p.m. Saturday, and Scheper said she had waited a little longer than usual to feed them Sunday afternoon. Heat lamps were near the goats' hay in the barn. Scheper said one of the goats may have knocked the lamp into the hay and started the fire.

The flames spread, and Scheper said she thought all the goats and chickens had died. But during the debris-removal process, firefighters found a few of the chickens had survived.

Francis said he did not know what caused the fire. An hour after the fire was reported, crews checked the scene for hot spots.

"One of the biggest problems we have right now is all that hay in that back corner. It's just going to lay down there and smolder, so we are trying to break it up and put it out," Francis said.

The barn was considered a total loss. No family members or firefighters were injured.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

pertinent address:

4023 County Road 435