Barn fires can leave deep scars on cows that survive the flames, warns veterinarian Maylene Johansen. She has created a crisis management guide to help other vets with how to help animals after barn fires. – Perhaps the worst damage we saw in the vast majority of the animals was psychological disorders, which meant that they were not manageable by humans, she says. She has experienced a barn fire similar to last week’s fire at Byrkjelo in Gloppen, where a barn burned to the ground on Friday evening. Over 200 animals were in the barn, and only 60 of them were rescued. More than 100 animals lost their lives. The barn at Byrkjelo was on fire. Photo: Wilhelmine Ravnestad Sanne-Gundersen Mental retardation Four years ago, veterinarian Johansen was called to a serious barn fire on Engeløya in Steigen municipality. The fire affected both people and animals. Several of the animals that were rescued and apparently looked healthy, were actually sick. The animals had breathing difficulties due to smoke damage, burn damage that had not been discovered, but also mental retardation. Around half of the animals that were rescued had psychological problems, according to the vet. The plagues were so serious that the animals could not be handled by humans. But the farmer depends on being able to be in contact with the animals to milk and examine them. – Some did not let themselves be milked, panicked at the touch and handling of udders, or could not cope with humans coming close to them. According to Johansen, these problems only appeared days or weeks after the fire. – We even recently had to euthanize several of the animals due to the strain they suffered as a result of the fire, says Johansen. Veterinarian Maylene Johansen has herself experienced a barn fire at work. Photo: Karoline OA Pettersen / Karoline OA Pettersen Johansen was also surprised by how the cows behaved during the fire. The vet and the farmer simply did not get the animals to live in the barn. They roared and wanted to go back, even though he was on full fire. – They were actually so close to the fire and the buildings that we couldn’t get to them. The cows didn’t eat. It was the opposite of what I had imagined, she says. Create crisis guide On the basis of his experiences, Johansen has created a guide for other veterinarians in the district on how to handle a barn fire. – I saw how strong the need was for a crisis plan when such things occur. Nobody had that, she says. Here it says what the vet should have with him, who he or she should contact and how they should take care of the livestock. – Having a procedure to deal with is absolutely decisive for saving lives. The cows in Gloppen are doing well The approximately 60 animals that were rescued from the fire in Gloppen at the weekend look as if they are doing well, according to the leader of the Breim farming association, Arne Frode Øvreseth. Just hours later, they had been given a temporary place to live with other farmers in the area. The cows seem to be doing well three days after the barn fire at Byrkjelo. Photo: Ole Kristian Svalheim / news Farmers from all over Byrkjelo lined up to help. – Everyone who managed the fire lined up and brought what transport equipment and halters they had with them, and not least themselves, says Øvreseth. Some of the animals in Gloppen have burn injuries, but are doing well. Photo: Steinar Lote / news Following closely In recent years there has been a positive trend. Fewer animals have died in barn fires. This year, however, the fire at Byrkjelo is the second major barn fire. Earlier in the autumn, 500 pigs caught fire inside a pig barn on Jæren. Agriculture’s fire protection committee is following developments closely. – We are a little scared. What we have seen so far this year makes us afraid that it is a trend that has reversed, so we hope that this is a set of cases, says leader of the Agriculture’s fire protection committee, Einar Frogner.
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Veterinarian says barn fire can lead to mental retardation in animals – news Vestland
