The Ohio State Fire Marshal is investigating a massive commercial barn fire at a hog complex that killed thousands of pigs in Madison County.
The blaze was reported at around noon Feb. 25 on Davis Road between Springfield Road and U.S. 42 in Union Township, said Central Townships Joint Fire District Chief Brian Bennington. On arrival, crews found two out of the five barns at the hog complex were engulfed in flames, he said.
A fire at a commercial pig farm Feb. 25 in Union Township, Madison County, killed more than 6,000 pigs and destroyed four of the five buildings, according to fire officials.
Crews began battling the blaze, but Bennington said the fire was difficult to extinguish due to wind speeds between 20 and 35 mph that fueled the fire, which spread to other barns on the complex, Bennington said.
Four out of the five barns were destroyed in the fire, said Bennington. In total, more than 6,000 hogs were killed and 1,500 were rescued, said Bennington.
There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. A total of 15 different mutual aid organizations assisted to fight the fire.
A fire at a commercial pig farm Feb. 25 in Union Township, Madison County, killed more than 6,000 pigs and destroyed four of the five buildings, according to fire officials.
Smoke will continue to rise from the remains of the barns, and firefighters will return to knock down any flames that fire up again.
Bennington said investigators with the state fire marshal do not believe the blaze was intentionally set, and are investigating the cause.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fire at commercial farm in Ohio kills more than 6,000 pigs
