A large number of pigs perished in a farrow-to-finish barn, about 170 kilometres west of Saskatoon late Friday night.

The facility, located 12 kilometres east of Plenty, was owned by Olymel.

“That barns holds approximately 10,000 to 12,000 pigs,” says Casey Smit, Olymel’s vice president of swine production for Western Canada. “This is the largest one (fire) we have ever experienced.”

Smit says wind spread the fire through the structure before the Rosetown Fire Department arrived.

“The wind was able to push the fire across the facility, down the hallway and into the other building as well.”

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

About ten people worked at the Plenty pig barn. Most of the employees will be offered other jobs in the company.

“We’re always looking for new employees, so the opportunity to transfer these employees to other facilities in Saskatchewan or Alberta is there. We are working hard to see what options are available.”

Once the fire investigation is complete, Smit says Olymel will look to see what needs to be done to hopefully rebuild at the same location.

(Above photo: courtesy of Dennis Ogg/Rosetown Fire Department)