The fire at Fine Oak Farms near London, Ohio, killed about 6,000 hogs and produced a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles across the rural area, authorities said. Central Townships Joint Fire District Chief Brian Bennington said multiple fire departments responded and that winds around 20 mph, with gusts reaching about 35 mph, accelerated the spread of the flames.
Bennington said that because water supplies in the area were limited, fire crews conducted extensive “water shuttle” operations during the response. He said two of five large agricultural buildings were “heavily involved in fire,” and that it took about five hours to bring the blaze under control.
Bennington said about 1,500 hogs survived and were taken elsewhere, and he said there were no reports of people being hurt. He also said the hog waste stored below the buildings was contained, and he reported no concern for impacts on surrounding groundwater.
An Associated Press reporter visited the site the day after the fire and saw that a portion of the complex remained visibly damaged, including a darkened structure that was partially collapsed and charred debris. The reporter said the impact appeared concentrated in one area, with other nearby buildings left largely intact.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause and origin of the blaze. Bennington said there was no suspicion of arson at that time, and the fire marshal’s office said it received a request for information by email.
Ohio business records filed with the Ohio Secretary of State show that the farm business was registered in 2017, and that Dave Heisler was listed as the company’s agent. People attempting to reach him and the company through phone and email received no comment, according to messages and calls that were left and followed up.
The Animal Welfare Institute compiled statistics that, as of January, showed more than 99,000 farm animals had been killed in U.S. barn fires earlier that year. The institute’s policy adviser, Allie Granger, called the Ohio incident “a very horrific event” and said such events were “a little more common than most people think.”
Granger said, “We’re very devastated to see that the fire has happened,” and she urged a thorough investigation into the Ohio blaze. A phone message seeking comment also was left with a spokesperson for the Ohio Pork Council.