SWAN LAKE — A devastating fire destroyed the barn at Michel Farms on Hurd Road late Sunday, killing approximately eight to ten dairy cows plus about 20 calves, according to co-owner Fred Michel.

No people were injured except for one firefighter who suffered from heat exhaustion, according to Timothy Blais, chief of the Kauneonga Lake Fire Department.

The farm is located about 3.5 miles north of Bethel Woods and was founded in 1946.

About 80 of the dairy cows were rescued and taken in by neighbor Will Hughson of Hughson Farms on Swiss Hill Road in Jeffersonville.

Hughson said at press time yesterday that two of the cows he's caring for were slightly burned but the rest were okay.

“We had room in our barn so we just brought them over,” said Hughson, who said he has 120 of his own dairy cows.

The White Lake Fire Company responded as an automatic response with Kauneonga Lake to the fire at about 5:30 pm Sunday, Blais said, adding that the fire was brought under control about 9 pm but there were still some hot spots that kept firefighters there till 1 am.

Upon dispatch, additional resources were called in from Jeffersonville, White Sulphur Springs, Youngsville, Kenoza Lake, Lake Huntington, Forestburgh, Roscoe, Callicoon, Loch Sheldrake and Monticello.

Rock Hill, Hortonville, Port Jervis, Lava/Narrowsburg were on standby assignments. The Sullivan County Sheriff's department assisted on scene as well as Bethel EMS, Mobilemedic, New York State Police and the Bethel Constables.

“I'd like to thank everybody who came to help us out and they are still helping us out ... support was fantastic ... the fire departments were fantastic,” Michel said, adding that he doesn't know how the fire started. Sullivan County fire investigators were on the scene until about midnight, he said.

Asked about the future, Michel said: “ We are still trying to sort this out and digest this whole thing right now.”

Nancy Michel, wife of Fred Michel, added: “They (the community) were amazing...neighbors, other farmers and firefighters.”

The fire came just a few weeks after all area dairy farmers got news that several independent dairy farms in the county will lose their wholesale contract, which could put many if not all out of business. Congressman John Faso last week said he would try to stop that from happening.