Broiler farm barn destroyed by fire; no chickens lost

A fire destroyed a poultry barn at an Ohio farm that grows broilers for Case Farms. No birds were lost, but six of the responding firefighters were treated for heat-related issues.

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A barn at Shaggy Apple Farms near Lattasburg, Ohio, was destroyed by a fire on September 13. The farm was a contract grower for Case Farms. (New Pittsburg Fire & Rescue Association)
A barn at Shaggy Apple Farms near Lattasburg, Ohio, was destroyed by a fire on September 13. The farm was a contract grower for Case Farms. (New Pittsburg Fire & Rescue Association)

A fire destroyed a poultry barn at an Ohio farm that grows broilers for Case Farms. No birds were lost, but six of the responding firefighters were treated for heat-related issues.

The fire, according to a Facebook post from the New Pittsburg Fire & Rescue Association, the fire was reported at 12:17 p.m. September 13, and upon arrival, fire and rescue crews found a 60-foot by 650-foot barn fully engulfed.

The barn where the fire broke out was destroyed, but firefighters from multiple departments were able to protect other structures and prevent the blaze from spreading to other areas of the farm. A total of 66 firefighters and 25 pieces of apparatus were on the scene. All units were back at their respective stations by 6:10 p.m.

The New Pittsburg Fire & Rescue Association said six firefighters were transported to the Wooster Community Hospital to be treated for heat-related health issues, but all six are now “home and doing good,” a fire association spokesperson said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The farm, according to a report from The Daily Record, known as Shaggy Apple Farm, is located south of the community of Lattasburg. There were no chickens in the barn at the time, farm owner Brian Reed told the newspaper. Normally, the barn would hold about 55,000 chickens, but a new shipment of chickens was scheduled to arrive during the following week.

The barn had only been built about a year and a half ago.

The fire caused an estimated $500,000 worth of damages.

Mutual aid was provided by the Wooster Township, Town & Country, Jerromesville, Polk Jackson, Clinton Township, Kidron, Nankin, Ashland City, Wooster City, Canaan Township, and Apple Creek fire departments. Also assisting were the Ohio State Patrol, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne County Highway Department and Hud Wharton Excavating.

Founded in 1986, Case Farms employs 3,200 people and produced 19.6 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken on a weekly basis in 2018, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database. It is the 13th largest poultry company in the United States.

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