Some 20,000 chicks died Monday in the fire of a farm in Merville (North), near Hazebrouck, said firefighters, adding that more than 12,000 others had been "saved from the flames". Monday afternoon, the firefighters were called "for a fire in an agricultural building" of 1,500 m2 "containing straw and more than 32,000 chicks," said the fire and rescue service (SDIS) of North in a press release.
"70% of small animals have perished"
"Despite the rapid extinction of the disaster, 70% of the small animals have perished," deplored the firefighters, rejoicing however to have saved "more than 12,000". "200 m2 of straw also went up in smoke," according to SDIS. One of the operators, "exposed to smoke" and considered by the firefighters as "lightly injured", was transported to the hospital center of Hazebrouck.
"The live chicks will be examined by a veterinarian and a decision on their fate will be made" by the veterinarian and the operator, the same source said.