(Lewis, Iowa) – Firefighters from Lewis, Atlantic and Griswold were paged out to a large structure fire on the southeast side of Lewis, at around 6:33-a.m. today (Thursday). Lewis Fire Chief Terry Erickson told KJAN News when the first crews arrived on the scene moments later, they found a barn at 701 E. South Street fully engulfed in flames.  Erickson said “We immediately started to extinguish the fire. Atlantic and Griswold [firefighters] were enroute for manpower and tankers for water, due to its location.”

Chief Erickson said “there [were] goats and peacocks housed in the barn [that] perished.” He said while they were working the blaze, one firefighter passed out due to possible smoke inhalation. They were transported from the scene to Cass Health. The number of goats lost amounted to 10, along with some of their babies, and four peacocks, according to Erickson.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.