250 lambs were in a sheep shed when a fierce fire broke out at the sheep farm in Geel (Antwerp Province) on Monday evening. The fire brigade was only able to save around 100 animals. Fire-fighters stayed at the farm throughout the night to prevent any flare-up.
The fire started in a sheep shed belonging to not-for-profit organisation Kemp in Geel. "Of course the hay and fuel in the shed accelerated the fire," says Geel Mayor Vera Celis. "A woman present in the house at the time was able to notify the emergency services immediately, but it happened so quickly that she could do little more than witness the inferno."
Kemp uses the sheep for grazing projects in the Kempen District of Antwerp Province. The adult sheep were not on the farm at the time of the fire, the shed only contained lambs. The fire brigade and emergency services were able to rescue about 100 lambs from two of the shed’s sections. A vet will now examine the surviving sheep. Some may have to be put down.
"For the owners of the shed, it is all very emotional," Celis said. "Fortunately nobody was injured, but everyone had to stay at a distance and only the fire brigade was able to move in and save as many animals as possible. In the course of Tuesday, civil protection officers will also arrive at the scene to dismantle certain parts of the sheep shed."