The bright orange glow from flames lit up the sky as firefighters tried to contain a rapidly spreading blaze in Metcalfe.
A homeowner called the Ottawa communications dispatch centre around 12:44 a. m. on Thursday, telling fire services that one of their large barns was on fire and “flames were spreading to nearby barns.”
Crews were sent to the 3000 block of 8th Line Road, a rural property just south of Metcalfe. When they arrived, firefighters described seeing two barns engulfed in flames and “extreme heat conditions.”
This portion of the city does not have fire hydrants, so crews had to truck water in to help douse the blaze.
Quickly, teams brought multiple hoses to the structures, while another crew was tasked with protecting nearby buildings from the “intense heat and flames,” the press release notes.
“Embers carried by the wind ignited several small spot fires in surrounding hay and brush,” Nick De Fazio, public information officer with Ottawa fire, said. “A brush truck was dispatched to extinguish these fires and prevent further spread.”
It wasn’t just the flames officials had to worry about; downed and live hydro lines, fuel tanks and possible structural collapses factored into how teams fought the blaze. An aerial ladder was brought in to help attack it from height.
Firefighters faced multiple hazards during an early morning barn fire in Metcalfe.
At 12:44 a. m., Ottawa Fire Services Communications received a 9-1-1 call from a homeowner reporting that one of their large barns was on fire and that the flames were spreading to nearby barns in… pic. twitter. com/5FDQ4GTTYF
– Ottawa Fire Services (@Ott Fire) June 4, 2026
Officials said that the property owners were able to save most of the animals from the barns before crews arrived; however, one horse and several chickens were killed in the incident.
After over an hour of fighting the fire, crews prevented the flames from spreading and declared it under control by 2:06 a. m. Three barns were destroyed in the incident, but crews were able to protect the owner’s home.
An excavator was brought in to remove debris and help teams douse further hotspots.
A fire truck remains on scene to monitor for any flare-ups as temperatures soar to 31 C in Ottawa on Thursday.
Crews battled a dangerous fire with multiple hazards like live hydro lines. (OFS) Keep it Factual
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