U.S. egg producer Kreider Farms suffered a fire that killed approximately 250,000 layers and caused US$12 million in losses. The fire occurred on December 13, 2022, at the producer’s Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, facility.
According to WGAL, the fire started after 1 P.M. EST on Tuesday in the one of the layer houses on the property. Officials stated that numerous fire companies responded to the fire and worked for almost seven hours, one being the Annville Cleona Fire Department.
No injuries were reported but all 250,000 birds in the house were lost to the fire.
The day after the incident, Kreider Farms President Tom Beachler stated: "A fire broke out in the rear of a layer house at our Mount Pleasant facility located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon. The fire was extinguished by midnight. All employees are accounted for, and firemen and staff suffered no known injuries.”
“As a result of the quick actions of our staff and the local fire companies, the fire was successfully contained to the one-layer house and prevented from spreading to other buildings. The overall facility otherwise remains undamaged and intact. Processing and shipping will resume by 1 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon."
U.S. egg industry fires were common in 2022
Fires in the U.S. egg industry, and poultry industry, became so frequent in 2022 that the public became suspicious of their sources. Many formed conspiracy theories that claimed government officials were to blame. While this idea is farfetched, it proves that enough fires occurred to push consumers into believing unrealistic stories.
In November 2022, Rose Acre Farms’ Johnson County, Missouri, facility suffered a fire that caused minimal damage to one of its barns. No birds were lost and no injuries were reported.
In May 2022, a fire broke out at Forsman Farms’ Stockholm Township, Minnesota facility. No injuries were reported but approximately 200,000 birds were lost.
In April 2022, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch experienced a fire at its cage-free Green Meadow Organics facility located in Saranac, Michigan. No birds were lost and no injuries were reported.
