Smithfield Hog Farm 'Devastated' By Oklahoma Wildfires

A Smithfield Foods hog farm in Laverne, Oklahoma, was devastated following the recent fires that left the Oklahoma panhandle charred. While animals were lost in the fire, no employees were harmed.

"At Smithfield Foods, the safety and wellbeing of our employees continues to be our highest priority as we recover from the wildfires," Kathleen Kirkham, Smithfield Foods' Director of Corporate Communications, said in an email with the current company statement on the event. "While we are deeply thankful that no employees were harmed in the fire, we lament the unnecessary loss of animals and the devastation to the surrounding community."

The operation houses approximately 45,000 sows total, split among two 10,000 sow farms and multi-site farms in the area, however the number of hogs lost in the fires has not yet been determined.

Smithfield Foods is currently not releasing more information about the fire and its impact on the Laverne farms. Pork Network will continue to update this story as information is released. 

For more information about the fires, visit here.