WELLINGTON NORTH – No people were injured but 1,600 pigs died in a barn fire on Labour Day near Derrynane.
Wellington North Fire Service shared news of the fire on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that firefighters were responding to reports of “a concrete agricultural structure fire” near Concession 4 North on Sideroad 5 East, west of Derrynane.
The fire service later posted an update to say the pig barn fire was under control, but “the building will be a total loss.”
Deputy fire chief Callise Loos said the initial call came in shortly after 4:30pm on Sept. 2, and about 50 firefighters were there for five hours to put out the blaze.
According to the social media post, the Minto and Dundalk fire departments joined Wellington North firefighters on the call.
Although there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, “1,599 pigs perished in the fire,” Loos stated in an email response to an Advertiser inquiry.
She went on to say the estimated cost of the damage is set at $1.5 million, and it is not clear how the fire started.
“Origin and cause were not able to be determined due to the extent of the fire,” Loos said.
