Nearly 2,000 Pigs Die in Fire Near Melvin, Iowa

Officials say nearly 2,000 pigs died in a fire near Melvin in northwest Iowa.

Melvin Fire Chief Steve Heitritter told Sioux City television station KTIV that fire crews were called to the hog confinement operation at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 and stayed on the scene until noon.

Heitritter estimates that more than 1,800 pigs died.

He says the fire likely was caused by an electric problem in a small building that connects two larger confinement buildings.

No dollar estimate of the damage was provided.