Fire Destroys Hog Barn Near Montrose (UPDATE)

(THE FIRE SCENE OVERNIGHT)

Fire destroyed a hog barn near Montrose overnight Monday night.

Montrose firefighters were called to a barn owned by Jonathan and Ron Helmink at 11:50pm. The hog barn is located four miles east of the Montrose Equity plant and a quarter-mile north, in Jasper County.

Montrose Fire Chief Chris Overbeck said a passerby who spotted the fire phoned 911. Overbeck said the barn was already fully involved when they were contacted. He said 150 pigs, averaging about 100 pounds apiece, were killed in the fire. Firefighters were able to keep the fire away from another hog barn nearby.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Overbeck called a full still and firefighters from the Teutopolis, Dieterich, Toledo, Wade Township, Crooked Creek and Sigel departments responded to the scene, while companies from Effingham, Watson and Greenup covered the Montrose station in case of another fire call.

(THE FIRE SCENE TUESDAY MORNING)

No firefighters were injured. Overbeck said the last firefighters cleared the scene about 2:50am.