LONDON, Ohio -- A devastating fire at a hog farm complex in central Ohio killed roughly 6,000 pigs and sent a towering plume of smoke visible for miles across the rural countryside.
Fire crews from multiple departments battled the blaze Wednesday at Fine Oak Farms in Madison County, about 25 miles southwest of Columbus. Strong winds -- sustained near 20 miles per hour with gusts up to 35 -- helped fuel the flames and made containment difficult. Limited local water supply forced firefighters to shuttle water to the scene.
Officials say two of the facility's five large agricultural buildings were heavily involved, and it took about five hours to bring the fire under control. Approximately 1,500 hogs survived and were relocated.
No injuries were reported.
Authorities said manure stored beneath the buildings remained contained, reducing the risk of groundwater contamination.
Investigators from the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Officials say there is no indication of arson at this time.
Officials described the Ohio incident as a catastrophic but localized event, with nearby buildings at the complex largely spared.