Catty1
07-18-2007, 12:36 PM
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700 pigs die in fire at Chilliwack barns
2 hours, 12 minutes ago
An estimated 700 pigs have died in a fire that ravaged two barns in Chilliwack, B.C., early Wednesday and has left at least one farmer devastated by the loss.
"The buildings are pretty much totally destroyed," James MacDonald, assistant fire chief in the small city 100 kilometres east of Vancouver, said about the 2 a.m. PT blaze.
"There was heavy black smoke coming from the buildings on our arrival. So, at that point in time, the buildings were almost to the point of not being saveable."
MacDonald said it took about an hour to extinguish the fire, but crews were still on the scene several hours later to make sure it did not flare up again.
Johnny Guliker, who rented one of the barns to raise some pigs, said the pigs were his livelihood, and he doesn't know what he'll do now.
"I just hope that they all had a very peaceful death. That's all. I didn't want to hear any noises, and I was glad when I came there that the firefighters told me that they all basically died in their sleep."
The fire department said the pigs likely died of smoke inhalation. Caused of the fire hasn't been determined.
Chilliwack has a population of about 76,000.
700 pigs die in fire at Chilliwack barns
2 hours, 12 minutes ago
An estimated 700 pigs have died in a fire that ravaged two barns in Chilliwack, B.C., early Wednesday and has left at least one farmer devastated by the loss.
"The buildings are pretty much totally destroyed," James MacDonald, assistant fire chief in the small city 100 kilometres east of Vancouver, said about the 2 a.m. PT blaze.
"There was heavy black smoke coming from the buildings on our arrival. So, at that point in time, the buildings were almost to the point of not being saveable."
MacDonald said it took about an hour to extinguish the fire, but crews were still on the scene several hours later to make sure it did not flare up again.
Johnny Guliker, who rented one of the barns to raise some pigs, said the pigs were his livelihood, and he doesn't know what he'll do now.
"I just hope that they all had a very peaceful death. That's all. I didn't want to hear any noises, and I was glad when I came there that the firefighters told me that they all basically died in their sleep."
The fire department said the pigs likely died of smoke inhalation. Caused of the fire hasn't been determined.
Chilliwack has a population of about 76,000.