Chicken House Fire

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Company #27 and Mount Aetna Company #28 were dispatched at 1200 hours for a fire in a chicken house on Deck Road just east of Cherry Hill Road in Tulpehocken Township.  Upon response, 27-10 (Chief Feick) was advised a passerby reported black smoke from a chicken house.  27-10 immediately requested the barn fire response.  A Rehrersburg fire fighter who lives on the neighboring farm went direct to the scene and made sure that the ventilation fans in the barn were immediately shut down.  Engine 27 arrived shortly after and went into service with 2 hand lines.  Other lines were placed by additional arriving companies.  Marion Township Engine #52 established a supply from a pond on the property.  The fire was knocked down and the ventilation fans restarted to get fresh air into the chickens.  Crews also assisted in securing the floor joists in the barn pending the arrival of contractors.  This chicken house was approximately 450' X  65' and was an "open floor" arrangement.  Very few, if any, of the estimated 60,000 chickens were lost due to the fire.

Companies that responded or were on standby:

    Rehrersburg #27

    Mount Aetna #28

    Marion Township #52

    Strausstown #50

    Bethel #54

    Frystown #53

    Bernville #29