Fire destroyed a large hog confinement barn Sunday afternoon in Poweshiek County, near the town of Deep River. Some two-thousand to 2,500 head of hogs were lost. Deep River Fire Chief Brandon Wanders says the nursery barn was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived.

Chief Wanders says firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to several other barns. Wanders says it’s not the first time his department has responded to the farm. “We had a fire there three or four months ago, same barn, same location,” Wanders says.

 “We ruled that as a heating mat from where it started and with it being cold again, I’m assuming that’s what was going on there again and that’s what started it.” He says the investigation is still underway.

“With the heat mats laying on a plastic floor, it shorted out about three months ago when we were there,” he says. “I’m thinking it was probably something to do with that, I’m assuming.” Wanders estimates the value of the hogs lost is between 60- and $75,000.

By Chris Johnson, KGRN, Grinnell