CLEARFIELD TWP — Two barns and a large machine garage were destroyed and 70 pigs were killed Monday in a wind-swept fire on a family farm and sawmill.

The massive blaze broke out shortly before noon at Harry Snyder III's cattle and pig farm on Shuler Road about one-half mile south of Route 422.

Dark smoke from the fire could be seen all the way to Kittanning, 15 miles away, fire officials said. Twenty fire departments from Butler and Armstrong counties battled the blaze.

Family members told firefighters that the fire ignited in the middle of the main barn that housed dozens of pigs and numerous hay bales.

Authorities did not immediately know what sparked the fire that caused up to $200,000 in damage, said Rob Shuler Jr., assistant chief of the Herman Volunteer Fire Company.

Cpl. Jeff Crede, state police fire marshal in Butler, said he hoped to begin his investigation today.

“But we don't think it's suspicious,” Shuler said.

Bob Miller of Butler said he was on his computer when he learned of the fire. Miller is Harry Snyder's brother-in-law. His sister, Debbie, is married to Snyder.

“I called my sister, and she said the (main) barn was on fire,” Miller said. “She said they were trying to save all the animals.”

A number of beef cows at a separate barn nearby were apparently rescued. Only one pig reportedly survived.

About 1,000 square bales of hay and 20 round bales in the main barn were destroyed, Shuler said.

Flames quickly tore through the wood barn and a storage garage next to it. Inside the garage built of wood with galvanized metal siding were two tractors and other equipment.

The tractors were saved.

Before long the fire had engulfed a smaller barn in back of the main barn and garage.

The flames also scorched the sides of three large silos. The silos were half-filled with livestock feed, authorities said.

“The wind was kicking up pretty good,” Shuler said. “But water and manpower were the biggest thing.”

There are no hydrants nearby and firefighters had to rely on tankers. As many as 80 firefighters from 15 departments in Butler County and five in Armstrong County were called in to help.

Some if not all the buildings that caught fire had electrical power, authorities said.

Hose lines snaked around the property leading to the main barn and garage, and firefighters shot constant barrages of water onto the structures.

“They did a really good job in tough circumstances,” Shuler said. “They saved a cow barn that started to catch fire.”

While firefighters battled the blaze, family members, farm hands and neighbors consoled one another.

Debbie Snyder at one time sat by herself on the steps of her home's front porch, hands propping up her chin, as she tried to make sense of what was unfolding in front of her.

Harry Snyder at times was unable to hold back tears.

The Snyder family farm has numerous acres with buildings scattered about the property. The Snyder clan has been farming there for generations, authorities said.

Along with several dozen head of beef cattle and pigs, the farm is home to several chickens and turkeys and at least one horse.

Smoke from the fire periodically rose high into the air, propelled by wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph.

The smoke was so thick that firefighters appeared to disappear in thin air.

Firefighters on the front lines had to use self-contained breathing apparatus to cope with the overwhelming smoke.

Among the burned out rubble of the main barn were twisted sheets of galvanized metal, oil drums, a back hoe, a gas pump and a fuel tank.

The heat was so intense that at times it pushed back firefighters, some armed with pick sticks used to tear down what was left standing of the different structures.

Meanwhile, farm hands tended to the cows that were herded into a field in back of another nearby barn but they were safely away from the fire.

A livestock trailer was eventually backed up to that barn where the lucky pig, squealing up a storm, was prodded in and hauled away.

Compressed air foam was poured onto the structures as firefighters hours later got control of the fire.

Initially, firefighters were concerned that flames could jeopardize the two houses on the property.

Harry and Debbie Snyder and some of their five children live in one house; Harry Snyder's mother lives in the other one. Neither home appeared to be damaged.