Fire Consumes Chicken House on Greensboro Highway

Fire late Thursday, June 20, engulfed a chicken house in the 2500 block of Greensboro Highway.

By the time the first firefighter arrived on the scene about 11:15 p.m., the 34' x 300' structure was fully involved, according to Oconee County Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton. In all, 31 firefighters, two engines, six tankers, and a rescue and a squad truck responded, along with National EMS, Thaxton and Deputy Fire Chief Ken Parsons.  No one was injured.

Firefighters cooled a propane gas tank with water and wet the edges of the burned chicken house, then let the fire burn out at the request of the owner, Thaxton explained in an email to Patch.

14,000 9-day-old broilers all perished and the chicken house was a total loss, he said.  Another chicken house was also damaged.

Cause of the fire is unknown, Thaxton said.