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Fire ravaged three barns Friday afternoon at a “landmark” Barrhaven dairy farm, killing 80 cattle in a blaze that was still sending up smoke into the evening.

The fire broke out around 1 p.m. at Black Rapids Farm at 2600 Prince of Wales Dr. near Fallowfield Road. The farm belongs to the Ruiter family. The Ruiter homestead is also located on the property but was untouched by the fatal flames.

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Firefighters started getting 911 calls reporting fire and smoke at 1:03 p.m.

They said a farmer was at the property at the time fire broke out and made the decision to evacuate. That decision, according to firefighters, kept him out of harm’s way.

The cattle killed in the blaze were a mix of Holstein calves and cows, but about a dozen escaped harm because they were out in a field, where they remained Friday evening. No people were injured.

“They (the family) will need their network,” said fire spokeswoman Danielle Cardinal. “I can just imagine with the time I spent with the family here how devastating it must be, because the grandpa came by and spoke of the 50 years he spent here.”