Woman saves burning pregnant pigs after seeing livestream of barn fire

The alarm was raised after smoke was spotted rising at the back of the barn

Ethel, one of the pigs, reportedly knocked a heat lamp over which caused the fire (iStock)

Two pregnant pigs have been saved by a woman who noticed their barn was on fire while watching a livestream.

Laura Palladino had tuned into “swine cam” – a livestream from June Farms in West Sand Lake, New York – and soon spotted smoke rising in the background of the barn.

Quickly raising the alarm, Palladino, who lives 60 miles away from the farm, called 911 and alerted authorities.

Palladino had visited the farm over the summer and tuned into the livestream to see if the pregnant pigs had given birth.

“I logged on and at first, I thought it was just a wood-burning stove in the background,” Palladino said.

After she reported the smoke, it was discovered that Ethel, one of the pigs, had knocked over a heat lamp which had then started the blaze.

Speaking to WKBN, Palladino said: “I just called 911, but I’m in Dutchess County, so the 911 [call] sent me to Dutchess County 911. And the operator, he was like, ‘What? You’re watching a YouTube video?’”

The farm’s owner, Matt Baumgartner, and his farmhand, Joshua Vics, were contacted and rushed to the scene.

Recalling the incident, Vics said: “My mind immediately went to the worst. My heart dropped into my stomach.”

“I don’t like to think about how bad it could have been if she didn’t say something.” he added.

Vics noted the good timing of the webcams installation a day prior to the fire, while praising Palladino’s quick thinking and reaction.

Meanwhile, Palladino said: “I never thought that when we saw these pigs that I would technically end up saving their life.”