3,000 animals die as fire destroys Hutterite hog farm
Last Updated: Monday, April 9, 2007 | 2:41 PM CT
CBC News
A faulty exhaust fan is believed to have sparked a fire that destroyed a hog operation in a Hutterite community near Winnipeg over the weekend.
More than 3,000 pigs died and three buildings were destroyed in the Saturday fire at the Vermillion Farms colony in Sanford, about 20 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.
"It looks like it started in a faulty exhaust fan in the barn," RCMP Sgt. Steve Saunders said. "There are a number of exhaust fans throughout the structure, and what they found was that as the other fans were operating, they were sucking the fire throughout the rest of the structure."
Community residents knocked down part of the building and created a fire break so the flames wouldn't spread any further, Saunders said.
The pig operation is the main source of income for the community of 85.
Officials said damage could exceed $3 million.
With files from Canadian PressShare Tools
Latest Manitoba News Headlines
- Prisoner dies at Stony Mountain
- A 56-year-old man who spent most of his adult life in prison, has died at the Stony Mountain Institution, corrections officials say. more »
- Winnipeg WWE wrestler Chris Jericho suspended after flag incident
- Winnipeg native Chris Jericho has been suspended by the WWE after he crumpled and kicked a Brazilian flag at the WWE's debut show in Brazil. more »
- Missing boater may have struck reef, police say
- A boater who has been missing since Tuesday may have struck a reef, police say, adding a search for the man is continuing. more »
- Crime spree ends with 46 break-in charges
- Police in Winnipeg think they have caught the person behind a string of early-morning break-ins, where a vehicle was used to smash into businesses. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- 32 Syrian children die in artillery attack, says UN
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Police in Nova Scotia are investigating after a woman's remains were found in a hockey bag floating on a Cape Breton river Friday night. more »
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Winnipeg WWE wrestler Chris Jericho suspended after flag incident
- Crime spree ends with 46 break-in charges
- Missing boater may have struck reef, police say
- Outhouse bear attack survivor was grabbed from 'throne'
- First-time homebuyers find frustration in Winnipeg
- Winnipeg's Union Station to get facelift
- Kelvin High School celebrates 100 years
- RCMP to close labs in Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina
- MPI asked to cover tab for officers' overtime
Teddy Bears' Picnic
