Smoke still billows at 9 a.m. from the site of a fire this morning at an Egg Innovations chicken coop.
Atwood Fire Department responded to a fire at approximately 5 a.m. today on Crystal Lake Road that resulted in the deaths of thousands of chickens.
According to Mike Harmon, Atwood Fire Department Fire Chief, the fire was located in a building owned by Egg Innovations, which reportedly purchased the property about a year and a half ago. Harmon stated that a total of 65,000 chickens were kept in the building and that all chickens within perished as a result of the fire and smoke inside of the structure. Harmon stated that the chickens were just 4 weeks from laying eggs.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined and Harmon noted that investigations into the cause and damages will be determined when an insurance company comes to the property tomorrow.
Though Harmon was unable to say what caused the fire at this time, he did note that he believes the building was a complete loss. No one was present in the building at the time of the fire and no injuries were sustained as a result of the blaze.
According to Harmon, responding to the scene was Atwood Fire Department, who worked to extinguish flames in the south end of the building, and Warsaw Fire Department, who assisted with flames in the north end of the building. Tanks were received from Burket and Winona Lake Fire Departments and man power manpower was called for from Claypool and Leesburg Fire Departments. Harmon stated the fire was extinguished approximately an hour and a half after it began.