At Least 18,000 Diary Cows Killed in Texas Panhandle Explosion

[trekrok]

I'm having a hard time envisioning a fire/explosion that kills 18000 cows. How big is a barn that has 18k cows in it?

 

[hipshot]

https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-da...t-18000-cattle-dead-person-critically-injured

That’s just a few miles from my hometown,

 

[Okie4570]

I'm having a hard time envisioning a fire/explosion that kills 18000 cows. How big is a barn that has 18k cows in it?

Not for sure, but if the loafing lots or pens were down wind of that smoke, probably just suffocated.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Besides cow farts, what could there be in a milking barn that would blow up?

Woody

 

[Okie4570]

I'm having a hard time envisioning a fire/explosion that kills 18000 cows. How big is a barn that has 18k cows in it?

Not sure if there was a north wind that evening or not. That milking parlor is almost a half mile long it looks like.

 

[OkieJoe72]

Besides cow farts, what could there be in a milking barn that would blow up?

Woody

With that many cattle, there is a large amount of methane gas produced. I’m sure that there is some sort of collection system. When methane is present in an enclosed area, it becomes an explosion hazard.

 

[BallisticGuy]

It’s weird this happened Monday and it’s just now starting to hit the media. I just read this as well.

 

[trekrok]

Not sure if there was a north wind that evening or not. That milking parlor is almost a half mile long it looks like.

View attachment 367303

That is a large barn.

Article said speculation is the manure vacuum overheated and somehow ignited the methane. I always wanted to run a manure vacuum, but I think now I'll pass on it.

 

[dennishoddy]

It’s weird this happened Monday and it’s just now starting to hit the media. I just read this as well.

I had a breaking news feed on it Monday about the explosion but not the loss of cattle.

 

[El Pablo]

I bet they probably didn’t have redundant systems to get rid of the methane, etc. Failed to notice quick enough… boom