More Than A Million Chickens Feared Dead After Huge Illinois Barn Fire

A massive barn fire at an egg farm in southern Illinois has resulted in the deaths of over one million chickens. Three buildings caught fire, with flames reaching heights of 13,000 to 15,000 feet. The fire has been extinguished, and the cause is still under investigation. Fortunately, no humans were harmed in the incident.

Barn fires in animal agriculture are not uncommon, with hundreds of thousands of animals dying each year in such incidents. The intense farming practices result in high numbers of animals being kept in a single location, leading to more casualties in fires. Animals suffer greatly in these fires, either burning alive, dying from smoke inhalation, or having to be euthanized due to severe burns. There are no legal requirements for farm owners to have emergency plans in place to protect the animals in case of a fire.