Damage from a barn fire near Parkhill, Ont. that killed more than 2,000 pigs on Tuesday is estimated at about $1.1 million.

That figure takes into account the structure and its livestock.

The fire was discovered by a passerby and the barn was engulfed when firefighters arrived early Tuesdsay.

The Office of the Fire Marshal was on scene to investigate, but according to Middlesex County investigators, the office will not be submitting an official fire investigation report.

The Middlesex County fire investigator has also completed the investigation and says the fire’s cause will be listed as undetermined.

Fire officials say there are many ways to reduce the threat of fire on agricultural properties and ways to reduce the effects of fire when it occurs on a property.

Some major causes of farm fires are: mechanical / electrical failures; misuse of ignition sources; and maintenance deficiencies.

Officials provided the following information on causes and possible prevention:

  • Mechanical and electrical failures can occur for many reasons. Physical damage and the corrosion of wires typically cause the wiring to overheat creating a situation that can result in fire. These types of fires can often be prevented with good housekeeping and a regular maintenance program.
  • Fires may occur when ignition sources are misused in barns. This may include welding, grinding, smoking or any use of open flame in or around the barn. These operations should be strictly prohibited in the barn and when unavoidable these operations should be accompanied by a spark watch process or other monitoring measure.
  • Maintenance deficiencies may include missing heat shields or vent connectors that cause excessive amounts of heat to reach combustible content or structure. A good maintenance program will go a long way to reducing the risk of fire caused by these deficiencies.
  • Properly installed and well maintained fire separations as well as working early warning fire detection systems can greatly reduce the amount of property damage in the circumstance of a fire in an agricultural building.