UNION CITY, Ohio -- A two-alarm fire in Darke County killed more than 1,000 farm animals early Monday morning.

The fire started just after 12 a.m. on Route 502 near Union City, and caused a great amount of damage, WHIO-TV in Dayton reported.

"We found a 40-by-200 hog barn well involved with exposures," assistant Fire Chief Mark Wright said.

Firefighters sounded a second alarm, which brought firefighters from nine departments to the scene.

Fire officials said they had to haul water to the scene and attack the blaze from all sides.

Firefighters were unable to save the building and the animals inside.

"According to the owner, 150 sow and 950 baby pigs perished in the fire," Wright said.

It wasn't immediately know how the fire started, but fire officials said the blaze was a huge loss.