Crime & Safety
Firefighters Save 24 Sheep, 18 Goats From Barn Fire: PHOTOS
Four animals did die in the massive barn fire near Harvard Tuesday afternoon.
![The fire protection district arrived at the scene 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, and ended up saving 24 sheep, 18 goats, one cow and several chickens and ducks from the barn. ](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/52718/20240508/065655/styles/patch_image/public/harvard-barn-collapse-5-7-24-0004___08065106481.jpg)
HARVARD, IL — Firefighters saved several sheep, goats, chickens and ducks from a barn after it went up in flames and then collapsed Tuesday afternoon near Harvard, authorities said.
Four animals did not survive the blaze and collapse of the two-story, 30-foot by 50-foot barn in the 10800 block of Weidner Road in unincorporated Harvard, according to a news release from the Harvard Fire Protection District.
The fire protection district arrived at the scene 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, and ended up saving 24 sheep, 18 goats, one cow and several chickens and ducks from the barn. When the structure collapsed, it left a void on the lower level that ended up protecting nearly all the animals from the fire, fire officials said in a news release.
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
![](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/52718/20240508/065319/styles/raw/public/processed_images/Harvard%20Barn%20Collapse%205_7_24%200006.jpg)
No firefighters or residents were injured in the blaze.
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Fire officials believe heavy rain and winds that hit the area at the time of the fire contributed to the barn collapse, according to a news release.
![](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/52718/20240508/065428/styles/raw/public/processed_images/Harvard%20Barn%20Collapse%205_7_24%200003.jpg)
![](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/52718/20240508/065447/styles/raw/public/processed_images/Harvard%20Barn%20Collapse%205_7_24%200001.jpg)
![](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/52718/20240508/065508/styles/raw/public/processed_images/Harvard%20Barn%20Collapse%205_7_24%200002.jpg)
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