(Akron) — Fire officials were called to 14421 K-22 for a hog barn that caught on fire Monday afternoon. The farm is about 12 miles west-northwest of Le Mars. The alarm came in at about 12:25 p.m. and the Akron Fire Department quickly called for mutual aid assistance from the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and Ireton Fire Department. Later, the Hawarden Fire Department and the Merrill Fire Department were called to also help transport water to the scene. The barn probably measured about 110 feet long by 40 feet wide. Smoke and flames could be seen coming from the structure when firefighters arrived. Firefighters not only had to battle the flames, but also the heat. The Akron EMS services was providing bottles of water and sports drinks to the exhausted firefighters. Many firefighters were seen taking wet rags and draped them around their necks to help keep them cool. EMS officials were monitoring the vitals of many fire officials to prevent heat exhaustion. It is not known at this time if any hogs were killed as a result of the fire, but the barn did have hogs inside as the sound of squealing pigs could be heard as firefighters were trying to extinguish the flames. It had appeared the flames may have extended the entire length of the barn as firefighters were spraying water on all four sides of the structure. Earth moving equipment was brought to the scene with the intent to help knock down some of the walls to get better access to the flames and some hot spots. The southern end of the structure hadn’t caved in, but it was leaning as a result of the fire from inside. As of 5:30 p.m. firefighters were still at the scene. No word as to what may have started the fire. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene.
