Target: Clare Scriven, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Australia
Goal: Seek full investigation and the strongest lawful penalties, if warranted, after a fire reportedly killed hundreds of confined pigs in packed sheds and left many others to be euthanized.
Emergency crews fought a fast-moving blaze that tore through two pig sheds, each said to house about 250 animals. Images and on-scene accounts indicate a scene of mass suffering as pigs were apparently trapped behind shed walls while smoke and flames spread. Officials reportedly expect that, beyond those killed in the fire, additional animals will be euthanized due to severe injuries.
Authorities have stated that nearby hay bales may have spontaneously combusted in hot, dry conditions, igniting the inferno. This facility has also reportedly been the subject of an ongoing animal-welfare investigation after disturbing images and video were previously released by an activist group. RSPCA inspectors have been dispatched, and primary-industry officials are assisting, but the precise toll remains unclear as the site is secured and assessed.
When thousands of sentient beings are tightly confined, even a single lapse in prevention or emergency preparedness can have catastrophic, fatal consequences. Intensive operations should be held to the highest standards of fire prevention, detection, and evacuation planning. Sign below to demand a thorough, transparent inquiry and—if evidence substantiates negligence or other breaches—swift prosecution and the strongest penalties allowed by law, alongside mandatory upgrades to protect animals from another preventable disaster.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Scriven,
A catastrophic fire swept through two pig sheds, each housing roughly 250 animals, leaving hundreds of pigs dead and others slated for euthanasia due to critical injuries. The same site is also reportedly under an ongoing animal-welfare investigation based on prior footage that raised serious concerns. This convergence of alleged risk factors underscores an urgent need for decisive action.
We respectfully request a full, public accounting of what occurred and why. Specifically, we urge your office to coordinate with enforcement agencies to examine fire-prevention measures, alarm and suppression systems, hay and electrical management, staffing and emergency response, and animal-housing practices. If investigators find evidence of negligence or violations of the Animal Welfare Act, we ask that you support the pursuit of maximum penalties, including fines, prohibition orders, and any other sanctions available.
Beyond accountability, we ask you to champion stronger, enforceable safeguards for intensive animal facilities statewide: mandatory fire-risk audits; modern detection and suppression systems; safe storage of combustible materials; emergency-drill requirements; and immediate reporting protocols when mass-casualty risks arise. Clear, public standards—and rigorous inspections—can help ensure animals are not trapped to suffer and die in seemingly preventable circumstances.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: kallerna
