GiveSendGo Fundraiser to Help Family Rebuild Barn

Fire Departments on the Scene for 5 1/2 Hours

Article by Sue Dickens/Images submitted

Trent Hills – Wed., Feb 23, 2022 - A GiveSendGo fundraiser has been set up to help Tom and Joyce Reid replace a barn that was destroyed in a devastating fire earlier this month.

The fundraiser has been set up by their daughter Lauren Katelyn and her husband Kostas Mouskos to not only cover the costs of replacing the barn but to help them replace the farm animals that were lost in the blaze.

A total of 50 sheep, six calves, their dog Dakota, two tractors, and some farm equipment were all lost in the fire that happened at their farm on Rylestone Road on Feb. 5.

As Lauren and Kostas explained in their fundraiser the insurance coverage is insufficient to rebuild the barn and replace the tractors and equipment.

They also are in need of a tractor to be able to feed their remaining cattle.

Trent Hills Fire Chief Tim Blake said the call about the fire came in at 10:30 p.m. and when the firefighters arrived at the scene they were met with a “fully involved” barn fire.

“We were there for five hours and 30 minutes,” he told Trent Hills Now.

The Stirling-Rawden Fire Department responded as well but the barn and animals and equipment could not be saved. It was -22 degrees that night.

Tom and Joyce Reid

Tom and Joyce Reid lost everything in the barn. The entire structure was engulfed and gone within an hour.

A second barn on the property was saved.

Cause of the blaze is unknown but it is not suspicious, according to Fire Chief Blake.

People may know Joyce from seeing her in the I.D.A. Pharmacy in Campbellford. That’s where she works.

She spoke to Trent Hills Now about the fire.

“My husband has lived at the farm his whole life. It’s a (multi-generational) family farm.

“We lost two tractors and there were 50 sheep that had just started lambing, some had already had lambs. They were Dorset and Rideau Arcott sheep,” she said.

The barn measures 24 x 70 feet and had been built 16 years ago.

Their home, which is about 300 feet from the barn, was not impacted by the fire.

“As soon as we saw the fire we went rushing out I was running to get the dog, I wanted to get the dog out…We just put her into the barn because it was a cold night so I was hurrying to get her out and Tom was rushing out too, he thought he could save one of the tractors but it was just too hot. We couldn’t even go near the barn by the time we got there,” Joyce explained.

Their daughter called in the fire.

“My daughter’s hoping to take over the farm and in the next few years,” she added.

“All the neighbors have been very good to us…bringing food and and helping with the cleanup and stuff.”

To see the post about the fundraiser on Facebook go to: https://www.facebook.com/kostas.mouskos/posts/3167641140179917

Anyone wanting to donate to help the Reid family can go directly to: https://givesendgo.com/G2RCW?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=G2RCW

So far $3,430 has been raised. Their goal is $80,000.