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Northwest Iowa fire kills 5,000 pigs, destroys 2 buildings

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May 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

HAWARDEN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say about 5,000 pigs died in a fire at a northwest Iowa hog confinement operation. The Sioux City Journal reports two buildings housing the hogs caught fire Saturday morning near Hawarden. The Sioux County sheriff’s office says the fire apparently began when a pig dislodged a heat lamp, which fell into straw bedding.

When Hawarden firefighters arrived, one building was engulfed in flames and the fire had spread to an adjacent building. Both structures were destroyed. No employees were injured, but the estimated 5,000 pigs died.