Lambs Die In Peotone Barn Fire: Manhattan Fire District Chief

MANHATTAN, IL — A barn fire in Peotone Monday night killed at least two lambs, with all people evacuated safely, Manhattan Fire Protection Chief Steve Malone said.

At approximately 6:50 p.m., the Manhattan Fire Protection District (MFPD) was called to a reported fully involved barn fire in the 4600 block of Church Road in Peotone.

The first units arrived on scene within five minutes of the initial call for service. Fire crews reported heavy smoke and flames showing from a fully involved 50-foot by 70-foot outbuilding that housed lambs, cows, and chickens.

A full still alarm was activated for additional personnel and equipment. Firefighters quickly established rural water supply and immediately began fire attack on the building. Fire crews protected exposure to help move livestock. The fire was controlled and contained before reaching any nearby structures, and extinguished within 60 minutes, officials said.

All occupants safely evacuated the building, and no civilians or firefighters were reported injured. The lambs killed were the known fatalities as of late Monday night, Malone said.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by MABAS 19 Investigators.

Multiple agencies were on the scene and at the Manhattan Fire Stations to cover any additional calls for service during that time. These include Beecher, Richton Park, Crete, Manteno, New Lenox, Monee, Frankfort, Bourbonnais, Crete Township, Mokena, Orland, Elwood, Park Forest, and University Park fire protection districts.