LOCAL CHICKEN FARMERS LOSE 20k CHICKENS IN CHICKEN HOUSE FIRE

Wicomico County, MD-A chicken house fire occurred in the early morning hours on November 22, 204, at a commercial chicken house located on the 9200 block of New Hope Road, Willards, Wicomico County, Maryland. The structure fire was reported at approximately 5:43 AM, and it took the responding fire department around 30 minutes to control the situation.

The sizable property, spanning 500' x 40', is estimated to have suffered significant damage amounting to $100,000 for the structure itself and an additional $75,000 for the contents within. The Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department was the initial fire department assisted by fire departments from Maryland and Delaware.

The fire departments from Maryland were the Parsonsburg Fire Company (Station 6), Willards Volunteer Fire Company (Station 8), and Powellville Volunteer Fire Company (Station 11). The fire departments from Delaware were the Delmar Fire Dept (Station 74), Gumboro Fire Co. (Station 79), and Selbyville Vol. Fire Co. (Station 88). A total of 45 firefighters responded to assist with the situation.

According to reports, the fire was first noticed by a passerby, who alerted the relevant authorities. The fire's origin was determined to be within the interior of the chicken house.

At this time, the preliminary cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Regrettably, the fire resulted in a substantial loss of livestock. Approximately 20,000 chickens housed on the farm under contract with Amick Farms perished in the fire.