Lubbock.– More than 18 thousand cows died and a farm worker is in critical condition after a fire at a dairy farm in the Texas Panhandle.
The fire started Monday night at the South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt, about 66 miles (106 kilometers) south of Amarillo.
The Castro County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Dimmitt, Hart and Nazareth Fire Departments, were the first to respond to the explosion in the small town of nearly 4,200, according to the sheriff’s office.
One person was trapped inside the dairy farm but was rescued by first responders, according to the sheriff’s office. She was later transferred to a Lubbock hospital.
According to the Animal Welfare Institute, the incident is the deadliest fire involving cows in nearly a decade. A statement provided by the Texas Dairy Association on behalf of the dairy industry expressed condolences over the incident.
“We are deeply saddened by the family dairy and by all those affected by the tragedy that occurred at the South Fork Dairy Farm,” the statement said. “The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and we are referring the proper authorities to make that determination.”
In 2019, Texas authorized the installation of more than double the number of livestock allowed at the site from 11,500 to 32,000, according to a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The State also authorized the facility to increase its manure production by more than 50% in that expanded permit.
Wastewater from the facility flows into the Brazos River Basin.
In a statement, TCEQ spokeswoman Victoria Cann said the agency will ensure dead cattle and debris are disposed of properly. She said the agency is not aware of any environmental impact from the blast.
Castro County is the second highest milk producing county in the state with more than 59,361 cows.
