Major fire ravages Beaulieu Farm barn
Aviolent fire broke out shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday, September the 13, at Beaulieu Farm in Waterville and ravaged the barn and silos. The Beaulieu Farm has been an agricultural pillar in the Eastern Townships for years, standing at the crossing of Route 143 and Route 147. It is not to be confused with the Beaulieu Farm market, located
nearby.
An investigation is underway, but as of yet no official cause for the fire has been revealed. However, the barn was used to store equipment. No person or animal was harmed during the blaze. Up to seven firetrucks from the Sherbrooke and Waterville Fire Departments as well as surrounding municipalities were at the scene to help stop the fire.
Quebec’s Transport Ministry was forced to close down Route 147 in Waterville between Route 143 and Mitchell Road as of 1:30 p.m. for several hours. Fire trucks pumped water at John Deere, while drivers were suggested to detour through Winder Street to go in and out of Lennoxville, causing traffic to be backed up to Massawippi Street for those trying to access the 143 and the Champlain residences on Winder for those accessing Queen Street.
Hours after the fire broke out, white smoke could still be seen emanating from the barn’s burned frame. Farm owner Jean-guy Beaulieu will have a difficult task ahead, as grain harvesting begins in the next month and one of his silos was damaged. Compton-stanstead MP Marie-claude Bibeau discussed having met with Beaulieu on Saturday. “At the heart of our riding, the Beaulieu Farm has always been the link between rural and urban, our suburban farm,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “Yesterday’s loss saddens us, but resilience is at the heart of agriculture and Jean-guy is no exception. He is already in solution mode and I’m impressed.”
The very popular Beaulieu farm market was unaffected by the fire and continued its operations the next day on Saturday.