The fire occurred at 1833 Main St. Road. State Center Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Brad Pfantz said firefighters from his department and the Albion and Clemons departments put out the flame.

He said the fire was likely started by a spark from within the building.

“It sounds like there were some guys doing some welding inside on some hog panels,” Pfantz said. “As soon as the property owner discovered it, (they) called us.”

That call came in around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday. Pfantz said the State Center crew was back at the station around 12:30 p.m. after the fire was dealt with.

T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS - Area firefighters work to put out a flame Wednesday morning at 1833 Main St. Rd.

Along with hosing down the flame, Pfantz said the operation involved using an excavator and grapple to lift a part of the building roof which had collapsed in the fire. That allowed firefighters to drown out internal fires.

Pfantz said the building is likely a total loss and no hogs were inside at the time of the inferno. The other confinement buildings nearby were left untouched by the fire.

“We kept it contained to one building,” he said.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

(641) 753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com