Multiple departments battle hog confinement fire near Merrill, IA

MERRILL, Iowa (KTIV) - Several fire crews are on the scene of a large fire at a hog confinement building near Merrill, Iowa.

According to Le Mars Fire-Rescue Chief David Schipper, the fire happened Tuesday, March 21 about two miles northwest of Merrill at 27857 C-38.

Crews got to the scene around 11:30 a.m. and found two large hog buildings as well as one smaller building on fire. According to officials, there were no hogs in the buildings at the time of the fire. No injuries have been reported from the fire.

Akron, Hinton, Merrill, and Le Mars all responded to the fire, and the cause is still under investigation. Chief Schipper says they are looking at the office area as the possible starting point of the fire.

“Farm fires are tough because we have to shuttle water from town and bring it out here with us so that’s the other reason for four fire departments to get the water and the manpower that we needed,” said Schipper.