The exact cause of a March 31 hog barn fire east of Taber, Alta., which killed 2,000 pigs and resulted in an estimated loss of $1.3 million, will likely never be known.
Taber fire chief Mike Bos said fire investigators determined the fire started in the attic of the mechanical room that serviced eight interconnected hog barns. However, the precise cause remains unknown due to extensive fire damage.
The farrow to finish operation, Outlook Pork Ltd., is owned by Peter Klok, who also has hog operations near Nobleford, Alta. Klok was unavailable for comment.
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The Taber operation had eight interconnected barns, five of which were lost in the fire. Bos said 1,000 to 1,200 pigs survived the blaze because they were in the three remaining barns.
Bos said the fire spread quickly, even though it was a calm, clear evening.
“The weather did not contribute to the fire, but definitely having the fire in the attic, in a confined space like that, and having all the barns tied together, definitely contributed,” said Bos.
The barn had standard wood truss construction with a metal-clad roof and plywood beneath, said Bos.
“It was a well-built barn, and the biggest thing working against us was absolutely the large attic space.”
Several firefighters suffered smoke inhalation in the 10-hour battle against the fire, but they have since recovered. Members from the nearby Grassy Lake fire department assisted in control efforts.
