Fire destroys barn, 30 cattle dead

Watkins and Kimball Fire and Rescue Squads were dispatched at 3:10 p.m. Monday to the Dale and Barb Leither farm in Watkins for a barn fire. Kimball Fire Chief Tom Ehlinger said the Eden Valley Fire Department supplied an additional tanker truck for water runs, and Randy Kramer Excavating provided a backhoe to tear the burning barn down to prevent further spreading of the fire. Jamie Leither, son of Dale and Barb, said his parents were on vacation in Virginia at the time of the fire. The fire reportedly started in the haybarn and spread to a cattle holding area where approximately 30 cows perished and about 10 more have second-degree burns. The fire was not completely put out until about 9:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  Staff photos by Kelly Glynn.