UPDATE: Brownsdale barn fire is deadliest barn fire involving pigs since 2021, according to Animal Welfare Institute

(ABC 6 News) – The Animal Welfare Institute is calling the Brownsdale barn fire that killed 4,000 pigs the deadliest barn fire involving pigs nationwide since 2021.

AWI has been tracking barn fires nationwide since 2013. The 2021 they mention happened in Waseca, Minnesota, and killed about 12,000 hogs.

According to AWI’s analysis of media reports, about 8.5 million farm animals have died in barn fires in the U.S., with Minnesota ranking second in the country from 2022 to 2024 for number of animals killed in barn fires.

Previous story:

(ABC 6 News) — At about 11:52 p.m. on Wednesday night, Brownsdale Fire Department responded to a barn fire on 570th Avenue.

According to BFD, responders observed a large hog barn fully engulfed in flames. 4000 pigs died in the fire.

The barn was a total loss, and the cause of the fire remains unknown and under investigation.

No people were injured in the fire.

Austin Fire Department, Rose Creek Fire Department, and Mayo Ambulance also responded to the fire.