USA TODAY
A massive fire early Thursday killed as many as 250,000 chickens at a Florida farm operated by the company that sells eggs under brands including Eggland s Best and Land O Lakes.
Pasco County Fire Rescue Division Chief Shawn Whited said crews arrived around 1 a.m. at the Dade City farm near Tampa, operated by Cal-Maine, one of the country s largest egg producers.
No injuries were reported, but two of the four barns on the property were destroyed.
Cal-Maine Vice President and CFO Max Bowman told USA TODAY it was a rough day, but that the company was very thankful nobody was hurt in the fire.
Fire kills as many as 240,000 chickens at Florida farm
December 17, 2020 / 7:38 AM / CBS/AP
A fire early Thursday killed as many as 240,000 chickens at a Florida farm operated by one of the nation s largest egg producers. The Pasco County fire department reports that three barns each containing up to 80,000 chickens each caught fire at the plant operated by Mississippi-based Cal-Maine.
The fire was reported about 1 a.m. Firefighters were able to save five other barns from burning, CBS affiliate WTSP-TV reports.
Fire Rescue Division Chief Shawn Whited says firefighters expect to be fighting the flames for several hours and there could be large explosions in the area, WTSP reports.