At least 1.2 million chickens burned to death in one of the United States' largest egg facilities. According to a USA Today report, the five-alarm blaze erupted around 6:30 PM, engulfing whole buildings at the farm in Farina, Illinois, which housed over 1.2 million chickens.
Over 15 fire tenders from surrounding areas rushed to the spot to douse the massive fire. A video of the inferno shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows thick black smoke billowing from the fire site. According to local news, the smoke plume was visible on Doppler radar and could be seen from over 20 miles away.
No human casualties or injuries have been reported so far. However, the fire resulted in the tragic loss of over 1.2 million chickens housed at the facility. The cause of the fire remains undetermined and is currently under investigation by local authorities.
Fire at Poultry Farm in Illinois, Numerous Chickens Die
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps told local media outlets, including Fox 2 and KSDK, that over 15 fire departments were dispatched to the area where at least three buildings were engulfed in flames reaching heights between 13,000 and 15,000 feet.
Beckemeyer Volunteer Fire Department Shared Visuals From the Site
The Beckemeyer Volunteer Fire Department from Clinton County updated on Facebook regarding the fire incident, stating that they used 30,000 gallons of water to help put out the fire in Marion County, 43 miles away from their jurisdiction.
“It’s hard to explain the sheer size of this operation and all the moving parts and straight dedication that went into bringing this fire under control,” the post reads.
“Hats off to everyone involved, especially those volunteering. It should make for a long day at work today for most of us,” the post further said.