EAST PHARSALIA – Sixth-generation Newton Farms - Officially known as Balsam View Farms – on Newton Road, just off County Highway 7 in the town of Pharsalia saw a large portion of their dairy reduced to ash late Wednesday afternoon.

Fire companies from seven area departments spanning two counties assisted in controlling the blaze that cut a devastating swath through the center of the 210-year-old Farm's operation that produced upward of ten tons of raw milk weekly.

According to Pharsalia Fire Chief Ken Granger, it's believed that the fire originated in the second story of the dairy’s main barn structure - above the milking parlor.