JORDAN CENTER - Mark Ulrich walked among the still smoldering embers of his barn Tuesday, surveying the damage after flames tore through its rafters early Monday, destroying his dairy herd and equipment.
"There's a lot of people helping us today," he said. "It's overwhelming."
He and his wife, Delores, were awakened to the sound of a Green County Sheriff's Department siren at their home at W8903 Lewis Road at about 12:15 a.m. Monday. A deputy was pounding on their door.
As they stepped out, they could see their barn fully engulfed in flames. There were 119 milking cows, mostly Holsteins, inside.
Within minutes, firefighters from Browntown, Argyle, Woodford, Wiota, South Wayne and Monroe began to arrive at the scene. They came to do what they could, but they were unable to save the barn and about 100 cows that remained inside.
Ulrich said he had a sickening feeling in his stomach as he watched the barn burn to the ground. It was a total loss. The silo next to the barn might have been damaged, as well, but he didn't know to what extent. In addition to the barn, a John Deere tractor and feed mixer, both located next to the barn, received extensive damage. Another tractor near the barn also caught fire and was damaged.
Ulrich doesn't know how or where the fire started. It could have been an electrical problem or it might have been ignited by a heat lamp that was inside the barn for a litter of puppies, he said.
Family and friends have been spending time at the farm Ulrich has owned for the past decade, helping the family clean up. They've also stopped by with food for the workers.
Ray Scott, a family friend, was among those who stopped Tuesday with encouraging words Tuesday.
"It's tragic to have a family's work, a life's work, gone like this."
Ulrich said the only good to come from the fire is the support from family and friends.
"It shows that there are still a lot of good people out there," he said.
Work will continue to clean up the debris for a few more days.
Ulrich said he isn't sure what he's going to do next. He might rebuild the barn, but he doesn't know when.
It's too soon to know, he said quietly.
Scott said he expected the clean-up to be done by the end of the week.
"There's a lot of people helping us today," he said. "It's overwhelming."
He and his wife, Delores, were awakened to the sound of a Green County Sheriff's Department siren at their home at W8903 Lewis Road at about 12:15 a.m. Monday. A deputy was pounding on their door.
As they stepped out, they could see their barn fully engulfed in flames. There were 119 milking cows, mostly Holsteins, inside.
Within minutes, firefighters from Browntown, Argyle, Woodford, Wiota, South Wayne and Monroe began to arrive at the scene. They came to do what they could, but they were unable to save the barn and about 100 cows that remained inside.
Ulrich said he had a sickening feeling in his stomach as he watched the barn burn to the ground. It was a total loss. The silo next to the barn might have been damaged, as well, but he didn't know to what extent. In addition to the barn, a John Deere tractor and feed mixer, both located next to the barn, received extensive damage. Another tractor near the barn also caught fire and was damaged.
Ulrich doesn't know how or where the fire started. It could have been an electrical problem or it might have been ignited by a heat lamp that was inside the barn for a litter of puppies, he said.
Family and friends have been spending time at the farm Ulrich has owned for the past decade, helping the family clean up. They've also stopped by with food for the workers.
Ray Scott, a family friend, was among those who stopped Tuesday with encouraging words Tuesday.
"It's tragic to have a family's work, a life's work, gone like this."
Ulrich said the only good to come from the fire is the support from family and friends.
"It shows that there are still a lot of good people out there," he said.
Work will continue to clean up the debris for a few more days.
Ulrich said he isn't sure what he's going to do next. He might rebuild the barn, but he doesn't know when.
It's too soon to know, he said quietly.
Scott said he expected the clean-up to be done by the end of the week.