CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - An injured owl was recovered by a Chesapeake Sheriff's Deputy and taken in by a local environmental conservation organization on Friday.

Friday morning, Chesapeake Animal Control Officers were dispatched for a report of an injured owl that had likely been hit by a car.

A Sheriff's Deputy found and safely transported the owl to City Hall and then transferred it into the care of the Animal Control Officers.

Courtesy Chesapeake Animal Services

Courtesy Chesapeake Animal Services

Chesapeake Animal Services said that Lisa Barlow, founder of Tidewater Rehabilitation & Environmental Education (TREE), was waiting at the shelter when the injured owl arrived. They said after a thorough assessment, it was determined the Barred Owl only had minor injuries.

The owl is currently in the care of TREE until he is deemed healthy enough to be released.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Multiple goats died in one of two barn fires on Ballahack Road Friday, an official with the Chesapeake Fire Department said.

About 40 goats were housed in a barn owned by Hidden Acres Ranch in the 1800 block of Ballahack Road that caught on fire Friday evening, but Capt. Steven Bradley, an assistant fire marshal and public information officer with the Chesapeake Fire Department, said that "most of the animals did not survive the fire."

That was the second of two barn fires on Ballahack Road Friday evening, as the first one happened in the 800 block around 8:09 p.m. Navy Regional Engine 35 arrived at 8:15 p.m. to find a 100-foot-by-100-foot barn heavily involved in flames. Crews were able to bring that fire under control in just under 30 minutes. Capt. Steven Bradley, an assistant fire marshal and public information officer with the Chesapeake Fire Department said there were no injuries, and the barn was unoccupied at the time.

He said it's believed that the barn was primarily used for hay storage.

The barn fire at the Hidden Acres Ranch happened at 8:56 p.m., and when Ladder Company 5 arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames visible from the street, and firefighters stretched lines to the rear of the property and started a defensive attack on the fully-engulfed barn.

That fire was brought under control in about an hour.

Both fires happened in a rural, largely agricultural area of southern Chesapeake known for two-lane roads and farm land.

Firefighters remained on the scene working to overhaul the structures and put out lingering hot spots, Bradley said.

The Chesapeake Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of both fires, but at this time, Bradley said there's no evidence to suggest the two incidents are related.

The Chesapeake Fire Department received automatic and mutual aid assistance from the Moyock (N.C.) Volunteer Fire Department, the Virginia Beach Fire Department and Navy Regional Northwest Fire Department.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — With only one way in and out of the Deep Creek Elementary School campus, parents say drop-offs there are a safety nightmare that makes it a must to have a police officer directing traffic, something that they say isn't happening.

The only access road in or out of Deep Creek Elementary is a small residential street off of George Washington Highway — a very busy four-lane road — within sight of an exit to Interstate 64. It makes it challenging on most days to turn left into the school, or left onto George Washington Highway out of the school.

Erin Thompson, who has a fourth grader at Deep Creek Elementary, says since their crossing guard was hit by a car about five years ago, there hasn't been a steady presence here to direct traffic.

Previously: Chesapeake crossing guard hit near Deep Creek Elementary

"I sit here for forever and I can't get in and I can't get out in less than 45 minutes,” Thompson said.

And with that kind of backup, she said people get desperate.

"It just becomes a cluster, and cars, as well as the buses, will start to block traffic just to help each other out and it just becomes completely unsafe," Thompson said.

Cars block the traffic — and people, too.

Thompson took a photo of someone getting out of their car to help direct traffic after they had been sitting in traffic for 15 minutes. On the day 10 On Your Side's cameras were there, an officer was directing traffic, but Thompson said it's needed every day. Since we contacted police about this story, Thompson said there has been an officer at this intersection daily.

"The officer that was here this morning is phenomenal," Thompson said. "He has a great flow with the traffic on George Washington."

10 On Your Side reached out to Chesapeake Police, who initially said in a statement that they "have provided guidance to the school on safer route alternatives for those parents exiting the school. Among these alternatives are … exiting out onto Margaret Booker Drive and around to Galberry Road."

However, there is no road access from the school to Margaret Booker Drive. When we made Chesapeake Police aware of this, they acknowledged the error.

Chesapeake Police have amended their statement now, saying they advise everyone to turn right leaving Deep Creek Elementary, and then take an immediate right onto Margaret Booker Drive and follow that down to the light, which will empty out on Galberry Road. It still puts traffic on George Washington Highway, but police say they’ll continue monitoring the situation.

The full statement from Chesapeake Police reads:

“The Chesapeake Police Department has an assignment for a police officer to provide traffic direction at the intersection of George Washington Highway and Forehand Drive every morning from 7:15 a.m. until 7:35 a.m.  This assignment is typically handled by a Traffic Enforcement Unit officer. However, if one is unavailable, a call will be put on to dispatch an available beat officer if one is available. Nothing has changed with this assignment since 2023, and this location will continued to be handled as such. As part of the department's ongoing focus on safety and security throughout the city, they will continue to monitor and evaluate this location. We understand some parents' concerns and frustrations with wanting to make a left turn on to George Washington Highway in the afternoons and encourage them to follow the recommendations previously provided regarding the safest exit from Forehand Drive by making a right turn onto George Washington Highway.”