18,000 dairy cattle killed in Texas fire

The Castro County Sheriff's office reports upwards of 18,000 head of dairy cattle perished in the blaze. That was about 90% of the farm's total herd, according to reports.

At a press conference, Sheriff Sal Rivera said witnesses reported an explosion that spread into a massive fire all throughout the building where the cattle are held.

Investigators are working to pinpoint the cause. "They're trying to determine if it's machinery called a honey wagon that sucks out the manure and water," Rivera said. "It may have ignited possibly methane gas."

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The farm employs around 60 people, and all employees were accounted for. When rescuers arrived on the scene, one female employee was trapped inside. They were able to remove her from the building and she was air-lifted to a hospital where she is reportedly in critical but stable condition.

"While the loss of so many animals and property is devastating I am so thankful that there was no loss of human life," said Castro County judge Mandy Gfeller.

Southfork Dairy Farm has been in operation less than a year. It is located in the High Plains of the Texas panhandle, southwest of Amarillo.

Texas is the third top milk-producing state in the U.S., following California and Wisconsin, and Castro County is ranked fourth in the state, according to USDA.