A fire that erupted in a barn housing 3,000 pigs in North Middlesex, Ontario, is currently under investigation, according to fire officials. The incident, which occurred on Elm Tree Drive, northeast of Arkona, prompted the North Middlesex Fire Department to respond around 7:10 a.m. ET.
Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered the barn fully engulfed in flames, with the roof already collapsed. Despite efforts to extinguish the fire, all pigs inside the barn tragically perished. Fire Chief Greg Vandenheuvel mentioned the challenges faced due to the size of the structure, preventing interior access and necessitating external firefighting measures, especially in the rural area with limited water supply.
Additional support from Lambton Shores and Adelaide Metcalfe fire departments was sought to contain the blaze, which took approximately three to four hours to bring under control. Vandenheuvel indicated that while the primary fire has been contained within the barn walls, smoldering may persist for days. Fortunately, no other structures on the property were affected.
Firefighters remained on-site into the afternoon, and the extent of the damage is yet to be assessed. Authorities have engaged the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal for further investigation. Following the incident, Elm Tree Drive, which was temporarily closed between Sylvan Road and Roddick Road, has since reopened for normal traffic flow.