'I don't even have words': Future uncertain for Louisville Llama Farm after devastating fire
Owners of Louisville Llama Farm Caroline Willette and Dale Hill lost their livelihood with the death of their seven remaining llamas in a barn fire Monday morning.
The incident comes six years after the death of eight of their llamas in a dog attack — an unexpected and horrific incident that prompted them to start locking up the animals at night.
"We never used to to enclose them at night ... but since the dog attack six years ago, we put up some fencing so that they could stay in close to the barn at night and be protected," Willette said. "They were locked in, and when the barn started to burn, they couldn't get out."
The farm, located behind the Louisville Zoo near the Poplar Level neighborhood, has been a staple for the neighborhood and community for the past 30 years. Willette said they used to host a "Llama Fest" with hay rides and pumpkin carvings and encouraged community members to view the space as their own.
"I never feel like it's my property," Willette said. "I feel like I'm a caretaker of the property for the whole area and the community and the world, really. You try to keep the property for everyone."
Willette said she's "heartbroken" by the fire after viewing her llamas as her "babies" for decades. After falling in love with the animals while on a llama trek in New England, she and Hill immediately bought five, not realizing one was pregnant.
The baby of the pregnant llama, named Secret, was one of the seven who died Monday. Her mother previously died in the dog attack that killed more than half the herd in 2019. A spokesperson with Louisville Metro Animal Services previously said they couldn't confirm "whether a coyote, dog or other large animal" was responsible but a veterinarian from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture who examined the llamas said the wounds "appeared canine in nature."
"The dog attack was so unexpected and to lose eight llamas just like that was really difficult," she said. "We had thought we'd done so good to have the fencing and keep them in at night ... I don't even have words."
The fire, called in by a driver of a nearby highway, engulfed the entirety of the barn at around 4:15 a.m. Monday, Louisville Division of Fire Public Information Officer Donovan Sims said. Crews responded to the scene in the 1500 block of Schuff Lane and it took around 20 minutes for 21 firefighters to gain control of the blaze. Due to the original intensity, crews were unable to enter the building.
Louisville Fire's arson unit is investigating the cause of the fire and while official results are still pending, Willette said it's possible it was caused by faulty electric wires or hay bales stored inside. They also had a heated bed for their barn cat Panic, who they haven't seen since the fire, which could've contributed.
More: Attack on Louisville llamas appears 'canine in nature,' officials say
Willette said the damages, which include the lost barn, equipment and the animals, would likely cost around $130,000. The barn was uninsured due to being in a flood plain and Willette says it's undecided if she and Hale will rebuild.
"It's a big loss for us, and we'll have to see where we go with things right now, because it's still real fresh and real difficult," Willette said.
Willette said they buried their llamas — Secret, Oreo, Felicity, Jubilee, Spectra, Prism and Dixie — Monday and are working, with the help of community members, to clean up debris and other damages.
"We're just so blessed with the community," she said. "I must have had 20 people out here today helping us clean up the barn, the metal roofing and all of this stuff and they got us a dumpster. They're all pitching in and we've almost filled the dumpster with everything. There's a silver lining. The community has been really supportive ... and we're blessed for that, our neighbors and our friends."
Reporter Billy Kobin contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Llama Farm destroyed in fire; 7 llamas killed
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