Fire at Alpaca Farm in Barrington Destroys Barn, Apartment

A barn and apartment at an alpaca farm in Barrington burned to the ground early Monday morning.

Emergency rescue crews were called to the farm on Swain Road after Sallie Whitlow awoke to the sound of glass breaking and ran to alert Jack Dibb, who was in a neighboring building. Dibb said Whitlow discovered the fire at approximately 12:30 a.m.

Sallie's Fen Alpacas is where University of New Hampshire students conduct research, including on methane emissions.

There was also a fiber mill and shop on site where hats and other goods were sold.

Dibb said there were no alpacas inside the barn, but there were five cats who are presumed dead.

Nobody was seriously hurt.

Swain Road is a dead-end dirt road. Crews from neighboring communities responded to help fight the three-alarm fire and prevent it from spreading.

It took firefighters approximately two and a half hours to get the fire under control.

The former building was still smoldering at 7:45 a.m.

Contact Managing News Editor Kimberley Haas at Kimberley.Haas@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @Kimberley Haas.