Heavy smoke and massive flames filled the air in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, on Thursday as officials responded to a fire at Brunton Dairy in Independence Township.
According to reports, the fire burned a building full of machinery and the dairy’s boiler. A second barn caught fire. First responders answered the call at about 5 p.m.
When the flames became visible, neighbors came to help move cattle to other pastures to keep them safe. Fire departments from Beaver County and neighboring communities transported water from a nearby creek by tanker to help fight the blaze.
A social media post by dairy farm employee Jeff Brunton shared that nobody was injured, and most of the cows survived. Another post by David Novak, who took photos and videos on the scene, indicates that between 10 and 15 cows were killed in the fire.
However, the milking barn and bottling plant were destroyed, leaving the community concerned about the survival of the seventh-generation dairy farm.
For everyone wondering, no one was hurt in the fire, but the milking barn and bottling plant are gone. Almost all the cows made it out. Thank you for your prayers, I’ll try to text and call you all back.
Coach Brunton— Hopewell Track & Field (@Hopewell_TnF) October 26, 2023
“Everything is done on this farm,” Nancy Wolfe, whose son-in-law owns the farm told Pittsburgh Action News 4 reporters. “There’s no middleman.”
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Following the fire, the community has responded to help support the farm
Brunton Dairy has been in operation since 1962. According to the farm’s website, the land was purchased in 1839 and now offers home delivery, a dairy store, and sells through retailers in reusable glass milk bottles.
Coyne Family Farm, another Pennsylvania dairy, is offering its support by donating 10 percent of sales this weekend to help the Brunton family.
The Beaver Bagel Company announced it would donate some proceeds to the farm.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page was set up to help the family recover from their losses. So far, $43,941 has been raised of the $250,000 goal with donors leaving encouraging comments for the dairy.
“Some of my fondest memories of visiting my grandparents involved Brunton’s milk — delivered to their home,” wrote one donor, Jenny Koscack. “So sorry to hear of their losses — praying for recovery.”
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