CLARKESVILLE — A Wednesday-night fire destroyed a chicken house on Copey Creek Road off Hardman Road outside Clarkesville.
“Just before 7 o’clock tonight, units were dispatched upon Habersham 9-1-1 receiving a call for a chicken house fire in the northwest portion of the county,” Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black told AccessWDUN.
Units from HCES, Clarkesville Fire Department, Lee Arrendale State Prison Fire Department, and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office responded.
“Upon arrival, [emergency personnel] found heavy fire from a 40-by-400 chicken house,” Black said. “Due to the amount of fire, they went into a defensive mode.”
While the cause of the fire is undetermined, Black said lightning from a storm can’t be ruled out as of Wednesday night.
“Just before and during the time the call came in, a storm was moving through that area,” Black said.
The investigation into the cause is continuing. Fire units were still on scene after 10 p.m.
“It’ll probably be tomorrow morning before they’re able to get in there and really try to assess and determine what caused the fire,” Black said.
A number of chickens were able to escape the burning building, but an unknown number did not. The structure was destroyed.
“It is a total loss,” Black said. “Estimated value is somewhere around $300,000.”
