Quick action by the owners of a hog confinement facility northeast of Shelby saved thousands of hogs from a fiery death, but some animals were killed in the fire Thursday night. Shelby Fire Chief Eric Wendt said the building at 515 Hazel Road was fully engulfed in flames and the roof of the building had collapsed.
“It was like a 2,500 head hog confinement and they just loaded out most of the hogs, there was about 350 head of hogs left in it,” Wendt says. Firefighters from Shelby, Harlan, Avoca, Minden and Elk Horn responded to the scene after motorist passing by reported seeing flames. Crews remained on the scene for about five hours. Wendt believes the fire was started by an electrical problem as the cause appears to have been a short in an electrical panel for the lighting, auger and related equipment.
No injuries were reported, but the loss was substantial as Wendt says an estimate of the loss of the animals and structure is about $400,000. Wendt said the mutual aid they received was greatly beneficial.
(Reporting by Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic)