News Now: Dozens of calves die in Orland fire

Dozens of calves died in a fire that consumed about $400,000 worth of hay on a farm south of Orland late Friday.

Farm owner Martin Poldervaart said his crew was finishing their work around 9:30, when a large storage shed burst into flames. He said by 9:45 the building was fully engulfed.

Poldervaart said all 38 calves killed were 2-months-old or younger, with an estimated value of nearly $4,000. A heifer recovering from a broken leg also died in the blaze.

The fire could spell disaster for the 36-year-old Orland dairy farmer who is concerned that insurance money won’t be enough to recover the nearly 1,300 tons of hay. The prospect of footing the lion’s share of the costs this late in the growing season is a major concern, he said.

“I’ve been talking to people, trying to arrange to buy some so hopefully we’ll have enough next year too,” Poldervaart said Saturday.

“We’re not calling it arson at this time,” said Jack Cavier, Artois assistant fire chief, “but it is suspicious.”

Cavier said most hay fires ignite in a certain area and spread.

“Most of the time we’re even able to pull a lot of hay out of a barn before it catches fire, but not with this one,” Cavier said.

Poldervaart’s family has owned the farm for more than 30 years and said nothing like this had happened before.

“I have no idea who would have done this,” he said.

Flames continued to shoot out off the haystacks Saturday and will likely continue burning for at least three days, Cavier estimated.

“Only then will we be able to get in there to figure out what really happened,” he said.

Poldervaart lives with his wife Katrina, their 10-year-old daughter and 3-year old son.

He said dealing with the fire would be challenging for everyone in his family.

“Today is my son’s birthday too,” Poldervaart said.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com