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| Pig farm fire: 4,300 pigs killed in County Armagh arson attack | Pig farm fire: 4,300 pigs killed in County Armagh arson attack |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Up to 4,300 pigs have been killed in a suspected arson attack at a County Armagh farm, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has said. | |
| Ten NIFRS units were called to the farm on Derrywilligan Road, near Bessbrook village, at 05:40 BST on Saturday. | |
| It took seven hours to deal with the fire and an NIFRS spokeswoman said 800 sows and about 3,500 piglets died. | |
| However, the BBC understands that the owner estimates the losses to be smaller, at about 2,000 pigs. | |
| The blaze also destroyed three sheds at the pig farm. | |
| 'Very intense' | |
| The NIFRS spokeswoman said: "The fire is thought to have been started deliberately." | |
| Five fire appliances and an NIFRS Command Support Unit were involved in the operation. | Five fire appliances and an NIFRS Command Support Unit were involved in the operation. |
| Crews also brought in water tankers and a hydraulic platform from nearby towns and villages. | Crews also brought in water tankers and a hydraulic platform from nearby towns and villages. |
| The fire, which the NIFRS described as "very intense", was extinguished by 12:46 BST on Saturday. | |
| An operation to remove dead animals from the property is taking place on Monday. | |
| The police said the cause of the fire was still under investigation and enquiries were continuing. |