Alton, Iowa — A hog confinement was damaged in a smoldering fire on Sunday, April 23, 2023, near Alton.
According to Alton Fire Chief Quintin Van Es, at about 8:35 p.m., the Alton Fire Department was called to the report of a hog confinement blower fan smoking at 4427 Kiwi Avenue, two and a quarter miles northeast of Alton.
The chief says the fire department saw very little as they approached the scene. He says they saw just a bit of smoke coming from the vents. He tells us it took some time to figure out what was happening, but during a search, they saw a glow in the manure pit under the confinement. Van Es tells us the workers had been pumping out the manure. He says he thinks that the agitation caused some methane to escape and ignite. He says there was a flash or small explosion-like burst that got into the attic space and started the blown-in insulation on fire. He says there was never rolling flame, just lots of smoldering insulation. He says they used their thermal imaging cameras to find the hot spots and tore down the ceiling to get at them.
Van Es says one firefighter twisted his leg during the response, but there were no other injuries. He says the facility had no livestock in it at the time.
The fire department was assisted by the Orange City, Granville, and Hospers fire departments.
Chief Van Es reports that there was no major damage due to combustion, but since they had to tear down the ceiling that will need to be repaired.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about five hours.
