WAKEFIELD, Neb. (KCAU) — UPDATE: Owners of a Nebraska egg-production farm are calculating their losses after a fire raged through one of their properties.
That blaze at Husker Pride Farms, a Michael Foods egg facility, north of Wakefield, Neb., drew several fire departments, including Wayne, Emerson, and Wakefield.
The fire call came just before noon with the facility housing egg-laying chickens in 10 barns on the property. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control but not before additional water supplies arrived on the scene.
At the time, the Dixon County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook asked the public to avoid the area while the fire was being fought.
Michael Foods Vice President of Farm Operations Pat Melena told KCAU 9 that he’s very grateful the damage was not worse.
“Shortly before noon today were alerted to a fire in one of the barn, poultry barns at our site near Wakefield, Nebraska,” Melena said. “It’s a multi-barn site. Upon arrival, the fire was throughout the building. We were able to limit it to one of 10 barns. No one was hurt. No one was injured. But we did obviously lose some chickens in that barn. But the structural damage and chicken losses is limited to only the one barn.”
The number of chickens lost and the total cost of damages have not yet been determined. The cause is still under investigation.