Hog farm fire in northern Kansas kills thousands of pigs
A fire at a hog farm in north-central Kansas burned for hours Tuesday, authorities said, killing thousands of pigs.
The fire started about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday at a barn for sows and piglets at Husky Hogs, which is near the tiny town of Long Island, Phillips County sheriff’s deputy Pat Hewitt said. The fire spread to two other farrowing barns before being controlled about two hours later.
A worker injured in the fire suffered arm and leg burns and is hospitalized in Wichita, Hewitt said. The injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The Kansas State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the fire, which occurred southwest of the town of 130 people just south of the Nebraska border. A cause has not yet been determined.
Husky Hogs’ Julia Nelson told The Associated Press the blaze killed about 2,000 sows and 7,000 piglets. About 4,500 sows were spared.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Stan Finger: 316-268-6437, @StanFinger
This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Hog farm fire in northern Kansas kills thousands of pigs."