Around 20,000 pigs have died after a large fire destroyed a commercial pig barn near Simcoe, Ontario, in Canada.
The fire broke out early on 14 July at a large commercial pig factory farm. When firefighters arrived, the building was already fully engulfed in flames. Around 40 firefighters from eight stations spent hours battling the blaze in extremely hot and humid conditions.
Fire officials initially estimated that at least 20,000 pigs had died in the fire. Officials later clarified that the barn had the capacity to house up to 20,000 pigs, and the exact number of animals inside when the fire started is still being determined.
The cause of the fire also remains under investigation, although authorities say it is not considered suspicious.
The fire has renewed discussion about fire safety on large animal farms. Thousands of pigs housed in a single building often have little chance of escaping if a fire spreads quickly.
Authorities have not yet released further details about how the fire started or whether any changes to fire safety measures will be considered after the investigation is complete.
