Langley arson victim mourns deaths of farm animals
Posted June 17, 2025 6:57 pm.
A Langley farm is accepting help after a losing more than half its animals in a fire allegedly set by a former employee.
For Kelly Eaglestone, it had been her dream to run the Langley farm that’s been in her family for 50 years.
“They’ve been hobby farmers my whole life; we’ve been farming all kinds of creatures,” said Eaglestone.
She tended to more than 100 animals, including turkeys, chickens, rabbits, pigs, and baby goats. Caring for them was her passion, and she loved watching them run around her.
On June 6, her barn was engulfed by a fire that Eaglestone says was set by her former employee after they had a disagreement, which led to him allegedly assaulting her.
“He punched me, he had me in a headlock, tried to choke me out, he smashed my phone, pulling me by my hair, he had a machete raised at me,” Eaglestone claimed.
A few dozen animals survived, but most perished in the fire.
The Langley RCMP has arrested and charged a 40-year-old man with arson, causing unnecessary harm to animals, assault with a weapon, assault, mischief and obstructing a peace officer. He has since appeared in court and was released under limiting conditions.
“I never thought he would do this to me. Fighting with me was one thing, but burning my farm — that was a different story.”
While heartbroken, Eaglestone hopes to rebuild the barn so she and her daughters can carry on the family legacy. A friend of hers set up a GoFundMe to help Eaglestone pick up the pieces.
