Rural New Vienna Barn Destroyed in Fire, Cattle Lost

A barn was destroyed in a fire near New Vienna on Friday night.

The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says they were called to Charlie and Carrie Deutmeyer’s farm at 28131 North Bankston Road around 9:15 pm for a report of a structure fire. Fire departments from New Vienna, Holy Cross/North Buena Vista, Farley and Dyersville also responded, along with Bi-County Ambulance and Lloyd Ament Excavating. 

When emergency personnel arrived, they found a 50-by-50 foot barn fully engulfed in flames. The Sheriff’s Office says the Deutmeyers were not home at the time the fire broke out. New Vienna Fire Chief Mark Lukan says neighbors were able to open gates to free some cattle and move some cattle to another barn before firefighters arrived. While the barn was lost, he notes firefighters were able to save nearby structures. 

Chief Lukan says around twenty cattle and some goats perished in the fire. Many cattle suffered burns and are being treated under veterinary care. No people were injured. 

Firefighters were on the scene for about five hours. The Sheriff’s Office estimates the Deutmeyers’ loss at about $150,000. 

Authorities say the fire remains under investigation, but is not considered suspicious.