Provincial police say dozens of dairy cows are dead following a barn fire in Elgin County.
Firefighters from Southwold Township and Central Elgin were called to the farm on Sunset Dr. south of Hwy. 401 after fire broke out around 7:50am Monday.
"Unfortunately , the majority of the cattle weren't able to get out of the barn," says Constable Troy Carlson. "Approximately 10 or 15 were able to make it out of the barn but the other 85 cows were lost in the fire. There were no injuries as far as human life goes."
As of 10:30am, fire crews were still on scene battling the fire.
"There was a significant amount of hay that was in the barn so that is quite difficult to put out," says Carlson. "The fire department anticipates being here for the majority of the day trying to put out the fire."
Thick black smoke billowed from the barn causing visibility issues for motorists in the area. OPP closed Sunset Dr. between Southminster Bourne and Clinton Line as a safety precaution.
The Ontario Fire Marshal's has been called in to investigate the cause of the blaze.
Damage is estimated at $1.5-million.