Hog barn destroyed in Man. fire

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Published: May 3, 2001

Leighton Siemens arrived at his hog barn last week to find smoke billowing from one end to the other.

There was nothing he could do to stop the fire, which killed nearly 3,000 sows and weanlings and caused $3 million in damages.

A venture that had been built up over six years was reduced to ashes in a matter of hours.

“It wasn’t a good feeling,” said Siemens, part owner of the barn that went up in flames northeast of Morris, Man., on April 25. “It was pretty devastating.”

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The fire started at about 7 p.m. Siemens, who lives with his family in Morris, said he hopes to have a new barn built and ready to stock by October.

Police last week said foul play had been ruled out. They confirmed that an electrical malfunction in the barn was the suspected cause of the fire.

Fire departments from Dominion City, Rosenort and Morris fought the blaze, according to the RCMP. The Oak Bluff Hutterite Colony also sent its water truck to fight the flames.

Siemen’s wife and son had gone with him to visit the barn on the evening of the fire.

His wife, Gaylene, said, “We put six years heart and soul into that barn. To have it go up in flames is quite sad.”

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Ian Bell

Brandon bureau

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