Barn collapses amid storms in Northern Illinois; dozens of animals rescued
HARVARD, Ill. (CBS) -- A barn collapsed near Harvard, Illinois far northwest of Chicago Tuesday afternoon, as strong storms pounded the area.
At 2:35 p.m., the Harvard Fire Protection District was called to a livestock barn in the 10800 block of Weidner Road in unincorporated McHenry County outside Harvard – about half a mile south of the Wisconsin state line.
The two-story, 30-foot-by-50-foot barn had totally collapsed. As seen from Chopper 2, the roof of the barn was on the ground, and the rest of the structure was reduced to a heap of broken boards and timbers.
Additional firefighters came to the scene for more manpower and heavy machinery.
The farmer to whom the barn belonged was on the scene with neighbors late Tuesday afternoon. The neighbors also brought in heavy equipment to assist.
A crane was seen digging through the wreckage as people stood by and watched.
The animals were all living on the lower level. When the barn collapsed, it created a void space on the lower level, which saved most of them, according to the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts.
Firefighters successfully rescued 24 sheep, 18 goats, one cow, and several chickens and ducks. But four animals did die, and two remained unaccounted for late Tuesday.
There were no reports of human injuries.
The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts said weather was believed to be a factor in the collapse.
A tornado warning was called Tuesday afternoon as a severe and fast-moving storm passed through Boone and McHenry counties. Heavy rain and straight winds were passing through the area when the calls first came in about the collapse, the fire protection district said.