A barn caught fire on a farm in Willisau early Sunday morning. Animals were also housed in one part of the building. The farmer concerned was able to count on the help of returning carnival guests.
“When my alarm clock went off at 5 o’clock, it was already very bright outside,” says Franz Lötscher (52), farmer of the farm, opposite 20 minutes. At first he thought the light was coming from a carnival nearby. “When I looked out the window, the flames came out of my barn,” he says.
He then alerted the fire brigade and immediately went out: «When I was in front of the barn, the first carnival from the Güggali ball came to my aid. I could open the gate and let the cows out. They were already close to the gate and wanted to get out. » The cows then ran straight to the meadow. The Güggali ball takes place in neighboring Daiwil. Later, more carnivores came to help. “They helped keep the cattle together in the meadows.”
Four calves burned
The farmer was less fortunate at the calf stable: «I could no longer open it. The heat was too strong. » Lötscher thinks he was too late anyway: “I couldn’t hear her screaming.”
Four calves were killed in the fire. The 33 suckler cows and three cattle were saved, they were housed in the surrounding farms, says Guido Häfliger from the Willisau-Gettnau fire department.
Four calves died in barn fire
The affected farm is located on Ostergauerstrasse in the east of the municipality. The fire department received the alarm at 5.06 a.m., as Häfliger said on request. The firefighters moved out with 92 people. The barn burned down completely. According to Häfliger, the subsequent erasure work should continue all Sunday.
Uncertain future
Bauer Lötscher does not yet know how to proceed: “I am already over 50. And now building everything up for ten years makes no sense either.” It is not yet clear who will take over the property after him. Lötscher is only the tenant of the farm. The owner is the AG Zigelwerke Horw-Gettnau-Muri. «I have informed the lessor. Now let’s see what happens next. » says Lötscher.
The cause of the fire is still unclear; Police detectives are now investigating them. Lötscher rules out arson: “I don’t think anyone wants anything bad, I didn’t have a fight with anyone.”
(SCL / SDA)
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