PARDEEVILLE, Wis. — More than 5,000 chickens died in a barn fire in rural Columbia County Wednesday evening, according to the Pardeeville Fire Department.
The fire broke out at an Amish farm on Vaughn Road between Pardeeville and Cambria around 5:45 p.m., Pardeeville Fire Chief Mitch Wendt said.
A 30-foot-by-200-foot barn was destroyed in the blaze. Roughly 5,300 chickens inside, including 3,000 newborn baby chicks, died, as did a cow, he said. No humans were injured.
Damage from the fire is estimated at between $125,000 and $150,000.
Firefighters from nine departments responded to the scene; the last units left just before 2 a.m. Wendt said it took between 70,000 and 75,000 gallons of water to fight the flames.
Officials believe the fire was caused by a coal burner.
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