Several volunteer fire departments spent hours battling a fire at a Pillen Family Farms hog barn near Humphrey early Monday morning, working through freezing temperatures and strong winds.
The Humphrey Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched to the barn, located about three and a half miles southeast of Humphrey, around 3 a.m. Fire crews remained on scene until approximately 7:30 a.m.
Fire Chief Jeff Brandl told KLIN media partner 10/11 Now the hog barn was a total loss. The number of animals affected has not yet been determined. No injuries were reported, and firefighters were able to protect a nearby structure from the flames.
According to Brandl, the fire had already spread through part of the barn by the time crews arrived. Firefighters located the fire in the attic area before it spread throughout the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“Cold temperatures and high winds resulted in less than pleasant conditions that resulted in large amounts of strain on personnel, and equipment,” said the department in a social media post.
Pillen Family Farms was founded in 1993 by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.