Hampton barn collapse kills six cows

HAMPTON, Conn. (WTNH) - Roof collapses continue across the state because of all the snow. News 8 was on the scene of a barn collapse in Hampton where animals were killed.

A pile of debris made up of wood an aluminum is what made up the roof which collapsed in a barn Thursday afternoon.

The owner of Wood Hill Farm tells News 8 that dozens of volunteers, firefighters, friends, and family all came in to help when this catastrophe happened. They were digging through the snow trying to save cows and they also removed the debris and piled it neatly by hand.

Workers are still dismantling the collapsed barn. The center of the 250 foot building caved in on the 150 cows housed inside.

"Most of them survived. We had to euthanize six. We had to put six down. Two were dead instantly and four we had to put down because they were too severely injured," says Allan Cahill of Wood Hill Farm.

The collapse happened around 1:30p. They usually begin milking at 2p.m.

"Another half hour there could have been people inside so we're just very fortunate," says Cahill.

Cahill is also thankful the milking operation is in the front of the barn which still stands.

"We've raised all the animals and they're our life. They're our life. It's catastrophic in that regard," says Cahill.

These collapses have become so common that on the way to the farm News 8 spotted another collapse up the road. The people who live on that property say it happened during the last storm and they also say luckily no animals were injured in the collapse.