WILLARDS, Md. - Thousands of two-week old chickens are dead after a fire at a Wicomico County chicken house Wednesday afternoon, according to fire officials.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal's office say it happened on Powellville Road in Willards around 12:45 pm Wednesday. Officials say it took roughly 45 firefighters about an hour to get the fire under control. Crews from Powellville, Willards and Pittsville Fire Departments responded, and firefighters on the scene tell WBOC the quick response helped to prevent the fire from spreading to another chicken house nearby.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials say it caused an estimated $320,000 in damages.
Officials say 19,000 two-week old birds died in the fire.
