410 pigs lost in pole barn fire near Lockridge

LOCKRIDGE ? Roughly 60 sows and 350 piglets were lost in a fire late Monday.

The pole barn housing the animals was mostly engulfed when Lockridge firefighters arrived at 3033 215th St. around 10:30 p.m.

?It was pretty much a complete loss as we pulled up,? said Lockridge fire chief Jeremy Loving. At that point, he said there was little the department could do beyond containing the fire to prevent its spread to a second barn.

Joseph Burgmeier said his baby had just been put to bed when his wife mentioned a popping noise. Since the couple lives close to a railroad track, Joseph suspected it was just another train, but Jessica went to the door and saw their hog barn aglow.

?By the time we noticed, it was too far gone,? Joseph said. While waiting for the fire department to arrive, he drove his tractor through a hall connecting his two hog barns. He moved some farm equipment away from the fire and opened doors to give his animals a chance to escape, but it was too late.

Loving said the structure burned quickly.

For the complete article and photo, see the Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.