10,000 Chickens Killed In Barn Fire

Fire destroyed a barn at a poultry farm in the South Hill area, killing about 10,000 chickens.

The fire began about 10 a.m. Saturday in the automatic feeding section of the barn at Fors Farms. The operation is highly automated and few employees were present.

Firefighters controlled the blaze in about an hour.

Thousands of chickens died. Others were so badly hurt that they had to be destroyed.

“It looked like something you might set out on a plate, except they still had heads attached,” said Assistant Chief Jack Arend of Central Pierce Fire and Rescue.

Damage to the building was estimated at $300,000. xxxx