Almost 4,000 hogs died in a Thursday night fire that destroyed a large barn at a Route 741 farm in Paradise Township.

The two-alarm blaze at 573 Strasburg Road, Paradise, did an estimated $600,000 damage, a state police fire marshal reported.

Terry Hershey, Paradise, and Country View Family Farms, of Harrisburg, were the victims, the fire marshal said.

The barn is a total loss, and it appears all 3,967 pigs that were inside the building perished, the fire marshal said.

The fire's cause is unknown and remains under investigation.

Heavy black smoke was seen coming from the barn just after 9 p.m.

Arriving firefighters found the 350-foot barn engulfed in flames, and officials upgraded the fire call to a second alarm.

While the barn and livestock could not be saved, firefighters were able to save an adjacent barn on the property, the fire marshal said.

There were no reported injuries.

The barn is located about halfway between Strasburg and Gap. Flames reportedly could be seen from Strasburg.

Paradise Assistant Fire Chief Drew Wenger was in charge of fighting the fire, Lancaster County Control said.

Firefighters from Paradise, Ronks, Gordonville, Kinzers, Strasburg, Bart Township, Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand, Witmer, White Horse, West Willow, Christiana, Quarryville, Rawlinsville and Gap were at the scene along with several area ambulance crews.


Staff writer John M. Hoober III can be reached at jhoober@LNPnews.com or 481-6027.