Seneca Barn Fire Kills Chickens, Causes $125K In Damage

SENECA TOWNSHIP, IL — A tragic Tuesday morning barn fire in Seneca Township resulted in over $100,000 in damages as well as the death of "a lot" of chickens, according to a report.

George and Susan Standish said their dog doesn't bark unless she has to, but around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, the sound of their dog barking woke them up to see their barn on fire. "I woke up and looked out the bedroom window, and I thought, 'I’m dreaming,'" Susan said, according to the Northwest Herald.

A passerby had called 911, so luckily, firefighters arrived around 5:45 a.m. Marengo Fire Chief Robert Bradbury said firefighters would likely need to stay a while and ensure the hay is completely doused as the McHenry County Sheriff's Office investigate the blaze.

"Some [animals] didn't get out," Susan said, even though George had tried to open a barn door to let the animals out. George enjoys keeping chicken and ducks, Susan said. They went through another barn fire five years ago, the Herald reported, but it wasn't as bad as this one. The couple farms grain together.

"After we lost them years ago, we got even more and built a bigger barn," Susan said, according to the Herald.

"We're both in our 70s," Susan said. "I don't think we're going to try this again."

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