The call went out at 3:20 p.m. for the fire at 250 Rowley Road — right on the Farmington and Sugar Grove township line. Firefighters from a dozen departments responded.

When firefighters arrived, the structure was about 50 percent involved, “spreading quickly,” according to Sugar Grove Assistant Chief Ben Chase. The fire started from an explosion in the milk house, apparently from a gas line.

The barn housed numerous animals, including horses, goats, dogs, chickens and turkeys.

“No one was in the structure,” Chase said. “There were no injuries to any people.”

“The homeowner and some neighbors opened the gates and let the animals out,” Chase said. “All of the horses escaped. One dog and three goats did not make it.”

The homeowner “wasn’t certain if all the turkeys and chickens made it out,” Chase said.

Firefighters faced an immediate challenge in fighting the blaze.

“There were electric lines right in front,” Chase said. “An electric pole that supports those lines was on fire all the way to the peak.”

Firefighters had to avoid that electrical hazard and the barn was fully involved about five minutes after their initial arrival.

REA was called and disconnected the electricity about an hour after the blaze began.

Firefighters were on the scene until after 10 p.m.

Sugar Grove was in charge at the scene for about the first hour, according to Chase.

As the fire was in a structure in Farmington Township, Lander took over.

In addition to Lander and Sugar Grove, the Russell, North Warren, Youngsville, Wrightsville, and Bear Lake departments from Warren County responded to the scene, as did Busti, Kiantone, Frewsburg, Ashville, and Panama from Chautauqua County.

Chase estimated that there were 70 firefighters at the scene.

The Garland, Starbrick, and Columbus departments were on standby.

Excavators from Bloomgren Concrete and Farmington Township helped move tin to allow firefighters to douse heat that was trapped beneath.

A group of about 35 Amish neighbors helped round up the animals, Chase said.

A gofundme account has been set up to assist the family with veterinary care and feed for the animals as well as building a new structure.