A fire at a large pig farm in Ohio, United States, has killed more than 6,000 pigs. Firefighters spent over five hours controlling the blaze, but authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire.
Fine Oak Farms, a large pig farm housing 7,500 pigs in Ohio, United States, caught fire last Wednesday (25 Feb) local time. The fire fiercely engulfed two buildings on the farm, resulting in the deaths of more than 6,000 pigs. Thick black smoke covered the area and was visible for several kilometers around.
Brian Bennington, chief of the Central Townships Joint Fire Department, reported that authorities called in multiple fire units from nearby areas to assist. Despite the combined efforts, it took five hours to control the fire due to strong winds blowing at about 32 kilometers per hour, peaking at 56 kilometers per hour, which intensified the flames. Additionally, the farm's rural location meant insufficient local water supplies, so firefighters had to transport water from outside while battling the blaze.
No injuries were reported from the incident. Approximately 1,500 pigs survived and were evacuated from the affected area. There was no contamination of surrounding water sources from pig waste beneath the burned buildings.
One day after the fire, international news agencies visited Fine Oak Farms to assess the damage. The destruction was concentrated in one area of the farm, with faint smoke still rising from the charred ruins of several barns. Other buildings on the farm remained undamaged.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the fire's origin. Currently, officials have no reason to suspect arson.
Investigators sent emails, text messages, and social media communications to Dave Haysler, the registered business representative for Fine Oak Farms with the Ohio Secretary of State since 2017, but he declined to comment on the incident.
Authorities have also contacted a spokesperson from the Ohio Pork Council for additional input to aid the investigation.
According to statistics compiled by the Animal Welfare Institute, fires at farms across the U.S. killed over 99,000 animals in January alone, mostly chickens that perished in fires at farms in North Carolina and Georgia.
So far this year, before the Fine Oak Farms fire, there have been 12 farm fires nationwide in the U.S., with three occurring in Ohio.
Allie Granger, a policy advisor at the Animal Welfare Institute, called the Ohio incident horrific and urged a thorough investigation. She added that it is regrettable how often such incidents occur.
,AP
,,