The fire early Monday morning caused millions of dollars in damages, but luckily no employees or cows were hurt.
A fire early Monday morning at Boxler Dairy Farm in Varysburg, NY caused an estimated $2 million in damages. Owner Hans Boxler Jr. said he got a call around 3 a.m. that the barn was on fire.
His immediate concern was for his employees that were there, and for the cattle that was in the barn. He was relieved to find that things were okay, all things considered. Boxler said, “They were able to get the cattle out of the barn. We did not lose any cattle. All our cattle are safe and not just the cattle, all our employees and all the people involved are safe.”
The fire did however, cause an estimated $2 million in damages to the barn. Rooms used to milk the cattle and process the milk were hit hard.
“Our milk storage tanks, just got word this morning, that they were reviewed [and] our largest tank is no good,” Boxler said. “Its crinkled and one of the three tanks that we have is in okay shape.”
While the fire was still burning, Boxler said he was getting calls and messages from members of the community, looking for ways to help.
“Fellow dairymen, friends with many of them, just with a phone call or a text,” Boxler said. “I betcha I had between 30 and 40 calls with people in the agribusiness and fellow farmers with ‘hey we’re there for ya, we can help do anything.'”
The farm has received emergency support from DeLaval, a local dairy production company, and The Dairy Farmers of America. They have been able to milk the cows and that milk is still able to be used.
“We were able to direct load, so a tractor trailer backs right up to the barn, and we had to make some provisions to make sure that the milk was sanitary and everything, with everything in place we were able to do that,” Boxler said.
The family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they have received from the community. Boxler compared it to how Bills Mafia often supports one another.
“Here in Wyoming County, Genesee county, all our fellow dairy men, maybe we can call it the farmers mafia, we all came together”.
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