200 pigs killed in Idaho Falls barn fire
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — A local family lost their business Friday night after a fire destroyed a barn with 200 pigs inside.
It started around 10 p.m. on North 5th East just south of County Line Road, according to Idaho Falls Fire Department spokeswoman Kerry Hammon. The barn was a complete loss and all of the animals perished.
A neighbor called 911 to report the fire as no one was home. When first responders arrived, they found the barn fully engulfed in flames with the roof collapsed.
The fire caused an estimated $80,000 in damage and the show pigs had a value of $120,000.
The barn and pigs belonged to Mark Romriell and his family, which operated as MKO Farms. According to an online fundraiser, the barn and pigs were not covered under insurance thus severely impacting Romriell’s business.
“I feel it’s important to pay kindness forward,” said one of the event’s organizers, Joey Ford. “The Romriells have helped my family for years. Mark has helped kids, including mine, with their 4H projects. When someone is hurting, I believe you should step up and help them.”
The Facebook event will be an online auction from April 5 to April 12 to benefit the Romriells. You can find out more about the benefit event here. Donations are also being accepted via Venmo @MKOgenetics. There is also a GoFundMe Page here.
Hammon said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Our attorneys tell us we need to put this disclaimer in stories involving fundraisers: EastIdahoNews.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries.