Thousands of pigs killed in fire at Minnesota farm

A fire at a pig farm in southern Minnesota on Sunday night destroyed two buildings and killed approximately 12,000 pigs. 

According to Waseca Fire Chief Jason Forshee, the fire was reported at Woodville Pork near Waseca around 10:30 p.m., with firefighters finding one farm building completely engulfed in flames. 

An estimated 12,000 pigs – 3,000 sows and 9,000 piglets – died while approximately 3,000 pigs survived. All the pigs that died had been housed in the two buildings that caught fire. Those that survived were in a separate building that was not destroyed during the fire.

Nine fire departments from the surrounding area helped combat the fire, which was finally under complete control around 10:30 a.m. Monday. 

The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.