Authorities have reported that approximately 18,000 cows were killed in an explosion at South Fork Dairy near Dimmitt, Texas earlier this week. The incident also resulted in one person being critically injured. It is believed that machinery may have triggered the explosion by igniting methane gas in the facility. Photos shared by the Sheriff's Office show a huge plume of black smoke rising from the ground. While the exact number of cows killed by the fire and smoke remains unknown, an "estimated 18,000 head of cattle" have been lost, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Sal Rivera believes that the majority of the cattle perished after the blaze spread to an area where the cows were held before being taken to a milking area and then into a holding pen. The fire is believed to have started due to an overheated machine called a "honey badger," which is used to vacuum manure and water from the facility. The methane and other substances likely ignited, causing the explosion.
The Animal Welfare Institute based in Washington, DC stated that if confirmed, the death toll of 18,000 cows would be so far the deadliest barn fire involving cattle since it began keeping statistics in 2013. The Institute encouraged farms to adopt fire safety measures and expressed sympathy for the affected cows, stating that it is hard to imagine anything worse than being burned alive.
