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Fire Kills 250,000 Chickens at One of Michigan's Largest Poultry Farms

Aug. 10, 2005

Fire destroyed an egg-production building at one of Michigan's largest poultry farms, killing about 250,000 chickens and causing up to $5 million in damage.

One of the buildings housing chickens at the Herbruck Poultry Farms burned to the ground Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, in Ionia, Mich. Scores of area firefighters worked to contain the blaze that killed about 250,000 chickens and caused up to $5 million in damage.

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Fire destroyed an egg-production building at one of Michigan's largest poultry farms, killing about 250,000 chickens and causing up to $5 million in damage, authorities said. No people were hurt.

Sixteen fire departments from four counties responded to the fire that broke out late Tuesday at Herbruck Poultry Ranch.

Firefighters remained on the scene Wednesday to extinguish hot spots and investigate. They hoped to use data from a computer system in the 4-year-old building to help determine the cause.

''We are glad there were no injuries, and remain continually impressed by the coordination and responses of emergency personnel in our region,'' farm President Steve Herbruck said.