Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Second fire on Ohio farm in less than a year kills 180 more hogs

By DOUG GRAVES

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — For the second time in less than a year, a fire has destroyed a hog barn at the Straathof Swine Farm in Fayette County.

The most recent fire occurred on April 30, at 7111 Old State Route 35 Southeast. In this fire, 180 hogs perished and three farm employees were severely injured. All three were taken to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for treatment, with one in critical condition. The names of the individuals have not been released.

On June 19, 2018, and on the same site, fire destroyed two buildings, killing approximately 5,000 hogs.

“The cause of the fire is currently undetermined, but our investigators are working to establish an area of origin,” said Chief Josh Hobbs of the Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau, last week. “This was a very large fire, so it’s going to be quite time-consuming to get to the bottom of it.”

Emergency responders from throughout Fayette County were on the scene; the next day investigators from the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office were there. The latest fire began shortly after 3 p.m.

“The building that was destroyed just received its first delivery of hogs,” said Sheriff Vernon Stanforth. “It’s my understanding it was a smaller number that were lost. They weren’t able to get them out.”

Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from the destroyed building spreading to the second building. “The severity of the fire was just as significant as the fire from last year,” Stanforth said. “But this time, they were able to save one building and the loss of livestock was on a much smaller scale this time.”

Some neighbors complained the stench from the first fire remained in the area for months, though Fayette County Public Health said its staff took every possible measure to reduce odor, dust, and insects, and monitor air quality control.

In November 2011, the Straathof Swine Farm was granted a permit by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to expand to a maximum capacity of 5,760 head of swine. A Permit to Operate (PTO) and a Permit to Install were issued by the ODA to the owner of the facility, Nico Straathof. A PTO is issued by ODA to producers who wish to operated a Concentrated Animal Feeding Facility (CAFF) in the state.

Last November, a three-alarm fire at Trillium Farms in western Licking County destroyed a pullet barn and killed 100,000 young hens for egg production. That same month electrical wiring was blamed in a fire that killed 300 pigs in Champaign County.

Eight months earlier a barn containing cattle, horses, straw, and hay had been destroyed by a fire in Pemberville in Wood County. Only one horse survived the incident.

There were 53 devastating fires at Ohio livestock or poultry storage facilities in 2018, according to the State Fire Marshal’s office. It was the highest tally in five years. Last year’s property loss, at more than $1.7 million, was more than four times the loss from 2014.

The loss of livestock, at $1.17 million, was twice that in 2017 and triple the 2014 animal death toll.

The OSU ag safety department said there are 20,000 agriculture related fires a year in the United States that cause $102 million in direct property loss. It suggests that storing supplies correctly within the barn is key in the prevention of barn fires. Hay and straw, sawdust and shredded newspaper, horse blankets, paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides are highly flammable items that need to be stored correctly and far removed from accelerants such as gasoline and kerosene.

According to the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the biggest contributor to barn fires is pool electrical work. Barns are often quite old and therefore have electrical wiring that is also old. The AWI suggests panel boxes be weather proofed and located in the driest area possible.

And, wiring throughout a barn should be encased in metal conduit in order to prevent damage. Above all, it says appliances in the barn should be UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed and grounded.

5/9/2019