Posted: 10.31.2011

A Saturday evening fire destroyed the combination barn/milking parlor and a shed at the Terry and Kathleen Regenold farm, 17725 W. Hafeman Road, Spring Valley Township, southwest of Brodhead, according to the Janesville Gazette.

On Sunday, 200 of the farm’s 300 goats that need to be milked will be taken to the farm of a neighbor, Molly Helwig. “We didn’t lose any animals, thank goodness,” said Kathleen Regenold.  Along with 300 goats, the Regenolds also have 20 head of cattle.

At 5:08 p.m. Saturday, fire departments from Brodhead, Footville, Orfordville, Turtle Township, Judah, Albany, and Durand, Ill., responded to the report of a barn fire, according to a news release from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. They were joined by Green County’s Hazardous Material Unit and Rock County Sheriff’s deputies.

When they arrived at the scene, the entire barn was engulfed.

Preliminary investigation shows that the fire began in the electrical system, the news release said. Brodhead Fire Chief Wayne Gibson said the fire was under control by about 8:30 p.m. By 1 a.m., crews were able to go home.

Regenold said they plan to rebuild the barn/milking parlor as soon as the debris from the fire is removed.

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