Fire destroys barn, kills two sheep near Ephrata

Firefighters rescue more than 20 sheep

EPHRATA — A barn housing several sheep near Ephrata caught fire killing two animals Friday morning.

The fire was called in at approximately 3 a.m. at a rural farm on Road F Northwest near Ephrata.

The 20-foot by 60-foot barn was a total loss, Grant County Chief Deputy Fire Marshall Bruce Gribble said. The fire was fully involved as firefighters arrived at the scene.

More than 20 firefighters from Grant County Fire District No. 13 responded to the call including assistance from Grant County Fire District No. 3 and the Ephrata Fire Department.

The firefighters worked to remove more than 20 sheep from the burning barn.

A ewe and her lamb who were penned up adjacent to the barn died, he said. Other sheep suffered burned fur.

No people were injured.

The fire was contained within an hour.

No other structures were in danger of catching fire, Gribble said.

The fire is deemed to be caused by an electrical malfunction, he said. It might have started in the area of the circuit breaker where electrical services came into the barn.