Nation barn engulfed in early morning fire

Firefighters with The Nation fire department and officers of the Russell County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were alerted to a structure fire at 1562 Route 500 early Wednesday morning, September 29.

The barn on the property was fully engulfed when crews arrived on the scene at around 5:35 a.m. Wednesday morning, and both the barn and a utility shed have been deemed a total loss.

The property also contained multiple buildings, including a house, with total damages estimated at approximately $250,000. A small number of chickens and a horse present in the barn perished in the fire.

Members of the Russell County Detachment attended and provided assistance to the multiple fire departments involved.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and has been ruled accidental, and is not believed to be of a criminal nature. Consequently, the investigation was turned over to The Nation fire department.

Route 500 was closed to traffic for approximately four hours and has since been reopened.