A deadly explosion and fire at South Fork Dairy Farm in Castro County rendered one person hospitalized in critical condition on Monday and killed thousands of dairy cattle.
The Castro County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received multiple calls Monday evening around 7:21 p.m. that some of the employees were trapped inside the dairy milking facility approximately 11 miles southeast of Dimmitt on the 1600 blk of CR624.
When deputies arrived, they found only one person was still inside the dairy building. All other dairy employees were accounted for. The Castro County Sheriff confirmed South Fork Dairy has 60 employees.
Firefighters from Dimmitt, Hart and Nazareth VFDs responded, entered the building with SBA equipment and brought the individual out who was then treated by Amarillo Medical Response EMS and later flown by medical helicopter to University Medical Center in critical condition. Several others with minor injuries were treated on the scene.
Fire crews from Dimmitt, Hart and Nazareth cleared the building and extinguished any fires that were actively burning with assistance from fire departments from Swisher, Lamb, and Bailey counties. A multi-patient vehicle from UMC was also on location.
According to Castro County Sal Rivera, “Witnesses reported there was an explosion and then a fire that spread into the building where the cattle holding pens were.”
The structure is reported to be approximately 2,136,973 square feet and is a total loss, along with the devastating loss of injured and deceased dairy cows.
Reports also indicate that as many as 18,000 head of cattle were killed by the fire and smoke, with many of those rescued sustaining injuries. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Amarillo Region arrived on scene on Tuesday and are assisting the dairy owner with carcass disposal/debris issues.
At the time of this report, the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the explosion.
“We are grateful for our volunteer firefighters. When we need them, they show up,” said Dimmitt Mayor Roger Malone.
Malone said the explosion was heard several miles and the smoke plume could be seen more than 30 miles away in Hereford. Another report from Railey Silhan, who lives in Morton, Tex.as, says the cloud of smoke from the explosion could be seen from her area, which is 80 miles southwest of Dimmitt.
Castro County Judge Mandy Gfeller said, “My heart goes out to each person affected by the fire and explosion at South Fork Dairy. I am so thankful for our First Responders as well as the neighboring counties that sent aid to Castro County. I commend their swift response and quick thinking to help save lives. While the loss of so many animals and property is devastating, I am so thankful that there was no loss of human life. I am praying for restoration for South Fork Dairy.”
As the dairy farm family struggles with the incredible loss, residents of Castro County are rallying to offer support. Started just after the fire, a lunch/meal train was created to help support the family and crews on the scene. Local businesses and community members have already signed up for meals to assist cleanup crews at the dairy, with two weeks’ worth of meals spoken for.
According to the Animal Welfare Institute, this fire is by far the deadliest barn fire for cattle overall and the most devastating barn fire in Texas since they began tracking barn fires in 2013.
Nearly 6.5 million farm animals have perished in barn fires since 2013, according to an AWI analysis.
The county has closed all roads leading to the dairy except for authorized vehicles (11 minute old update). Sheriff Sal Rivera, who is also the Castro County Emergency Management director, put out the notice: 'All county roads leading to the Southfork Dairy Farms are currently closed with limited access only. Barricades and road closed signs are up. This is in the interest of the public's health and safety.'