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A massive fire tore through Wells Farm in Northville Wednesday night, killing multiple animals and causing extensive damage to the farm’s structures.
Two pigs and likely dozens of chickens perished, while several other animals were injured in the 4:45 p.m. blaze, the farm’s owners told News 12.
Riverhead police officers, with help from the Wells family, rescued some animals from the barn. Fire departments from Riverhead, Jamesport, Flanders, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Wading River, Hampton Bays and Eastport battled the fire, which required several hours to extinguish.
“The Riverhead Fire Marshalls Office responded to the scene as well as the Riverhead Detective Division and the Suffolk County Police Arson Section to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire,” Riverhead Police said in a statement, noting that authorities believe the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious.
The Wells family expressed gratitude to the first responders and neighbors who helped care for animals during the fire. Eric Wells posted on Facebook Thursday, thanking firefighters and volunteers who assisted in moving animals to safety and providing food and water.
Meanwhile, the fire also stirred some controversy on social media.
Humane Long Island, which responded to the scene to monitor the condition of the animals who survived the fire, posted photos from the scene, including pigs with burns and foaming at the mouth, and suggested the Wells family had refused veterinary aid for the animals, citing the farm’s operation as a slaughterhouse.
Laura Wells reportedly strongly denied those claims, saying she and her family did everything possible to care for the animals during and after the fire.
“These are blatant lies,” she said, according to a Patch report. “They need to be held accountable.”
Wells added that the surviving animals were stressed by smoke and noise and that the family prioritized keeping them calm. She also criticized the posting of images of injured animals online, calling it “using our tragedy to promote veganism.”
As an added blow to the Wells family, they have discovered their farm insurance had been canceled due to a late payment.
The Wells family has operated the farm since 1661, making it Riverhead’s oldest farming family, according to The Suffolk Times.
Top photo: Wells Farm during the fire Wednesday night (Facebook).
