03/23/07 — Duplin hog house fire deemed suspicious

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Duplin hog house fire deemed suspicious

By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on March 23, 2007 1:48 PM

WARSAW -- Duplin fire and sheriff's officers are investigating a suspicious fire around 3 a.m. Friday at a hog house near Warsaw.

Fortunately, said Don Butler of Murphy-Brown, no animals were inside. The building, located at 1575 Veach's Mill Road, had been emptied for cleaning and washing.

No firefighters were injured, said Butler, who is the director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for Murphy-Brown.

The fire departments responded quickly, Butler said, but by the time they arrived, the structure was fully engulfed in flames. The building was a total loss, fire officials said. Its estimated value was $150,000, but Butler said that number could change as the investigation continues.

"Peculiar circumstances surrounded the fire. The office had been broken into," he said.

The Duplin County Sheriff's Office and the Duplin fire marshal are investigating the fire as suspicious.