Tragic Barn Fire Sheds Light on Animal Abuse in Minnesota
Published by MinnPost
Earlier this summer, 200,000 hens died in a massive fire at Forsman Farms, an egg farm in Wright County. The birds trapped inside the barn suffered excruciating deaths, their flesh melting away as they frantically searched for a way out of their cages.
Tragic barn fires like this one are not uncommon. A report released earlier this year estimates that more than 6 million farm animals died in barn fires between 2013 and 2021. Barn fires are especially common in cold weather states, where heating devices can malfunction in winter. Minnesota ranks among the top ten states for barn fire frequency.
According to a spokesperson for Forsman Farms, “No one was injured (in the fire).” This thoughtless comment sheds light on the values of the animal farming industry today. Animals are seen as commodities, not sentient individuals. Animal suffering and death are understood only in terms of profit and loss.
