A massive barn fire northwest of Lanigan Monday evening killed 3,500 young pigs.
RCMP and the Lanigan Fire Department were called to the fire at an Olymel pig barn — formerly owned by Big Sky Farms — just after 6 p.m.
Smoke was coming through the roof of the building when crews arrived and the barn was fully engulfed in flames just a short time later, according to police.
All 3,500 pigs inside the barn died. No people were injured.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A spokesperson for Olymel said the company is not sure whether it will rebuild the barn. Staff who worked at the barn will be moved to other barns and the company will not lay off any employees.
Olymel operates the barn under the name OlySky. The company purchased the facility from Big Sky Farms in January 2013. The barn was still using the Big Sky Farms sign at the time of the fire.
Lanigan is located about 125 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon.
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CORRECTION: Police stated in their initial press release that 4,500 pigs died in the fire. A spokesperson for Big Sky Farms clarified that while the barn holds 4,500 pigs, there were 3,500 in the barn at the time of the fire.
