A female goat and two baby goats were lost in a barn fire at 748 Jr Witt Road in Rock Island on Tuesday morning around 10:30 a.m.

“It was fully engulfed and the primary structure was on the ground,” said Rock Island-Campaign Fire Capt. Robert Bess. “The landowner put a heat lamp inside the structure to keep the goats warm and they knocked it down.” 

With three tankers and three fire engines, firefighters from both Collins River and Rock Island-Campaign Departments spent around 10 minutes extinguishing the flames.

Although the structure was reported to be a complete loss, firefighters were able to save the barn located next to the original structure.

According to county records, the property is owned by James and Carol Thomas.

Capt. Bess cautions those using heat lamps this time of year.

“It can be risky to use heat lamps so make sure there is distance between them and something flammable,” advised Bess.