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HELENA – About 3,100 pigs died in a quick-burning fire Monday night at the Milford Hutterite Colony south of Augusta.

The blaze destroyed a large livestock barn. A member of the colony reported the fire at about 5:30 p.m. Monday initially as smoke coming from the barn.

The 90-by-300-foot barn was engulfed when crews arrived. Any evidence of the cause of the blaze was destroyed by the flames, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said.

"It burned so hot we didn't locate anything. We didn't locate anything suspicious either," Dutton said.

Members of the colony told authorities the power in the barn had been fluctuating lately and that may have contributed to the fire.

Officials stayed at the fire scene, off of U.S. Highway 287, overnight. Dutton said the fire flared up again Tuesday morning. The scene was cleared Tuesday afternoon, said Sgt. Alan Hughes, with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office.

An estimate of damage has not been compiled. Officials said they believe the colony is insured.