Global Courant 2023-05-19 03:10:39
A fire and explosion at a dairy farm in the Texas Panhandle that injured one person and killed an estimated 18,000 head of cattle was an accident that started with an engine fire in a manure vacuum truck that was cleaning part of the massive barn, state investigators said.
A State Fire Marshal report on the April 10 fire at the Southfork Dairy Farm, about 50 miles southwest of Amarillo, did not determine what caused the engine fire, but found that there was “no intentional act to cause a malfunction.” cause”. The April 24 report stated that the investigation was closed.
FIRE BURNS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE IN CHARLOTTE’S SOUTHPARK AREA
A worker who drove the truck through part of the 2 million-square-foot shed told investigators that he saw steam coming from the engine bay that he first thought was steam. He tried to drive out of the shed when he realized there was a fire, but was unable to.
A dairy farm fire in Dimmitt, Texas is believed to be the deadliest cattle farm on record. An estimated 18,000 cows died in the fire, believed to be caused by an engine fire. (Castro County Emergency Management via AP, file)
The driver said he tried to put out the fire with two fire extinguishers, but was unsuccessful. Several other employees told investigators they rushed to help, but the fire quickly spread.
AT LEAST 1 MISSING AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE HOTEL BY FIRE: ‘TOTAL LOSS’
The report stated that the dairy farm had a second manure transporter on the property outside the barn. A dairy manager told investigators it had also burned before. The report listed burn marks near the engine compartment consistent with the truck shed fire.
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The number of cattle killed made the incident the deadliest barn fire involving livestock since the organization began tracking barn fires in 2013, according to the Animal Welfare Institute.
18,000 cows die in Texas Panhandle farm fire
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