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44-year-old Catherine O'Leary puts away dishes stifling a yawn as she sets a pile of plates in the cupboard.

She's had a long day preparing food, milking the cow, and cleaning her home, and now she's ready for bed.

But Catherine's hope for an early night are spoiled by an urgent knocking on the door.

She opens it up to find a panicked neighbor on the doorstep, pointing down the alley toward

Catherine's barn. There's an eerie orange glow coming from inside, and with a start, Catherine

realizes the barn is on fire.

Catherine rushes along the alley and opens the barn door.

But she's forced back by a wave of heat.

The straw and hay that her family stores in the barn is burning ferociously.

Flames are licking the wooden walls and roof.

And with one glance, Catherine realizes she has no hope of putting out the fire,

but she does have time to rescue her animals.

Braving the heat, Catherine rushes in to untie her cow.

It's her most valuable possession, and she can't afford to lose it.

She leads the terrified animal out of the barn to safety,

but before she can return to collect the shrieking pigs and squawking chickens,

the neighbor who raised the alarm grabs Catherine's arm, stopping her from going back into the barn.

She points up at the barn's rafters just as they fall in, showering the two burning embers.

...