Dryden-area barn roof collapses under heavy snow load

A rural Dryden woman says she and her husband are still in shock, after the roof of their barn collapsed under a heavy load of snow.

When Valerie Artimowich and her husband Gerald woke up last Friday, they saw the roof had fallen in on the riding stable they own in the Eton Rugby area.

"There's a substantial amount of the roof down into the clear span area where the riding took place,” she said.

None of the seven horses in the barn at the time was hurt in the incident, but Artimowich said she can't estimate the amount of “significant” damage done to their 13,000 square foot barn.

She said they're grateful to those who helped with the clean-up and recovery.

"There's been a lot of support in the area ... to help us out until we figure out what we are doing,” she said.

"We've had to off-place some of the animals with some friends, because the structure is unsafe.”

Artimowich said three of the animals have been placed with friends, while four remain at their property.