Overview
- The fire ignited around 11:56 a.m. on Feb. 25 at Fine Oak Farms in Union Township, Madison County, west of Columbus.
- Sustained winds near 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph accelerated the spread, and limited rural water supplies required extensive shuttle operations by multiple agencies.
- Crews contained the blaze in roughly four to five hours; three barns were destroyed, heavy smoke was visible for miles, and other structures were protected.
- About 6,000 hogs died, roughly 1,500 were rescued and relocated, and no human injuries were reported; officials said stored hog waste was contained on-site.
- The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the cause-and-origin probe, with no arson suspected; a single outlet reported an unconfirmed refrigerator ignition, and advocacy data place the event within a wider pattern of deadly U.S. barn fires.