Sow
and piglets die in fire on farm
Sau
und Ferkel verendeten bei Brand auf Bauernhof
Die
Borkener Zeitung, Ramsdorf, Germany, July 2,1992
Over
100,000 marks damage by fire / Cause of fire still unknown
Ramsdorf (hhk). In
debris and ash, a farm building fell yesterday on the [Anton]
Nieland farm, Bleking 10. A rough estimate by the police and fire
department sets the damage in excess of 100,000 marks. A sow died
with its piglets in the flames in the adjacent stable. Other animals
that could be rescued were removed by the Westfleisch transportation
company.
Photo caption: The flames spread, racing
quickly through farm buildings on the Nieland farm in Bleking.
Click image to enlarge
High-value machines could also not be dragged out
of the blaze. However, neighbors and fire fighters succeeded in
puling the diesel tanks out of the flames.
According to a police spokesperson, the fire broke
out in the lower part of the building. Hay was stored in the upper
part of the stables.
The owner had noticed the fire around 2:30 p.m.
and had alerted the fire-department.
The
fire engines came from Velen and Ramsdorf. First to arrive was
the Ramsdorf's large fire tanker. They were able to prevent the
fire from spreading to the residential building.
Then both fire engines arrived at the scene fully
equipped. Water was pumped 300 meters by a hose directly from
a stream on the Nieland farm. Firefighter Hans Messling said,
"The water supply worked out quite well."
Photo caption: Animals, which were driven
from the stables, were brought to safety by aids.
Click image to enlarge
The cause of fire is not yet clear, and has been
referred to the criminal investigation department. It could possibly
concern a technical defect in a blower. The scene of the fire
was seized. An expert will possibly still be consulted. The investigations
are continuing today.
The fire department was on the scene until late
in the evening.
This
farm once belonged to Anton and Bernadine Deelmann Nieland.
It now belongs to their descendants. This photo, taken in the
1960s,
was provided by Verena Nieland.
Click image to enlarge