Norfolk farm fire results in chicken deaths

It has been reported that around 15,000 chickens were killed by a blaze which engulfed the shed on a farm where they were kept in West Norfolk.

The fire began on the farm located on Walton Highway near Wisbech and King’s Lynn in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Firefighters who first arrived on the scene had to be careful due to asbestos in the roof of the shed and the possibility chemicals may be stored within the building.

The area was still not safe for fire crews to enter by midday on Tuesday, so a probe into the actual cause of the blaze had still not begun.

The Norfolk Fire Service area manager, Stuart Horth, said:

“We will not enter the building yet because it is structurally unsound and we do not go in where there is asbestos.

“It is a tragic incident. We care a lot about animals in these situations and passionately about people and it is always distressing.

“We are in the early stages of the investigation into the cause of the fire and are dealing with the incident to prevent further damage.”

This fire is similar to another incident which also took place in Norfolk back in May, although in that blaze the chicken shed also containing asbestos was not occupied at the time.