4,000 hogs die in Manitoba fire that caused millions in damages

Almost 4,000 hogs are dead after a fire at a farm near New Bothwell, Man., on Thursday night.

Fire crews were called to the farm around 9:30 p.m. Thursday and stayed until about midnight. A few firefighters remained into Friday morning to work on hot spots.

“When we arrived on scene we had a large hog finisher barn that was fully involved with fire,” Hanover Fire Department Chief Paul Wiebe said.

The barn housed about 4,000 hogs. They all died in the fire.

“With the hogs it’s very likely that they perished early in the fire,” Wiebe said.

Three fire stations from the RM of Hanover along with trucks from several neighbouring communities were deployed with approximately 40 firefighters and 10 apparatus.

Smoke could still be seen coming from the barn on Friday morning. Wiebe said the fire is expected to continue burning for several days.

“We don’t have decent damage estimates at this point and the cause is still being investigated by the office of the fire commissioner,” Wiebe said.

The hog barn wasn’t equipped with sprinkler and according to a statement from the Office of the Fire Commissioner, they aren’t necessary in farm buildings, including hog barns.

The barn was owned by Hespeler Hog Farms.