The State Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to investigate the cause of a fire that heavily damaged four of the five connected buildings housing chickens for Wabash Valley Produce south of Farina. A sixth building under construction was spared along with several adjoining buildings that did not house chickens.
Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says the fire began in the building in the middle of the configuration and was burning out of control on their arrival. Kinmundy-Alma was one of 27 fire departments providing mutual aid at the scene. Four aerial trucks from Salem, Effingham, Flora, and Dietrich were used to fight the fire from the air.
Most fire departments left the scene by five on Thursday morning. Farina Fire Chief Jed Goekner says no trucks were still at the fire Thursday morning, but the fire scene is still being monitored.
There were no employees at the facility when the fire was discovered. Day confirms there were no injuries in the firefighting effort.
Employees say the facility housed 1.2 million chickens. One employee called the facility one of the largest free range chicken facilities in the country.
Wabash Valley Produce has not yet issued any information on its plans after the devastating fire.
The sprawling facility on the south side of Farina includes the chicken housing facility that is on fire, a warehouse facility set apart from the chicken housing that was away from the fire, and other parts of the operation located at a nearby separate facility.
Day says water was initially pulled from the Farina Water System until water pressure dropped low. Water was then taken from Kinmundy and a borrow pit. Farina Village Officials say enough water pressure was maintained to avoid a boil order. Kinmundy residents were asked to conserve water but had no problems.
The departments providing mutual aid at the scene included Kinmundy-Alma, Salem, Effingham, St. Elmo, Brownstown, Vandalia, Edgewood, Iuka, Xenia, Patoka, Sandoval, Odin, Kell, Centralia Fire Protection District, North Clay, Dietrich, Harter Stanford, Orchardville, Montrose, Hoffman, Woodlawn, Teotopolis, Altamont, Flora, St. Peter, Schumway, Beecher City and Watson. Louisville, Jefferson Fire, and Beckemeyer provided change of quarters.
Marion and Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputies, State Police, and Marion County ESDA provided traffic control. Route 37 was closed to traffic from north of Kinmundy to the south side of Farina until 3:50 Thursday morning to keep non-essential traffic away from the scene.
Firemen fight the Wabash Farms chicken housing facility fire with an aerial unit from many tanker trucks bringing water to the scene. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Flames shoot over the top of one of the large buildings housing chickens for the Wabash Farms egg facility. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
