To the editor,

On Feb. 25, a fire at an industrial-scale hog facility in Ohio killed more than 6,000 animals. Firefighters reportedly used over 250,000 gallons of water to battle the blaze. That response raises urgent and unavoidable questions for communities like ours, which are home to industrial-scale agricultural operations: Where does the contaminated runoff go? How is it captured, contained, and treated? What are the impacts on groundwater, surface water, and private wells?

Any credible Fire Response Plan must be inseparable from a robust, enforceable Mortality Plan. In the event of a catastrophic incident, neighbors and surrounding communities deserve clear, transparent, and immediate answers to fundamental public health questions: How will thousands of carcasses be safely managed and disposed of? What safeguards are in place to protect emergency responders, nearby residents, and our shared environment?

Yet remarkably, no regulatory authority is currently mandated to review, verify, or approve fire response plans, nor are industrial-scale agricultural operations required to develop comprehensive, verifiable, and enforceable mass mortality plans. This regulatory void places neighbors, emergency responders, and our shared natural resources at unacceptable and unnecessary risk. For those of us living near large-scale agricultural operations, this void is cold comfort — and a stark reminder that public safety is being left to chance.

Mary Anne Wise

Maiden Rock Township