60,000 chicks perish in poultry farm fire

A fire at a poultry farm in Kampung Kelawar here Sunday killed about 60,000 of the 80,000 chicks being bred there, causing the farm to incur about RM2 million in losses.

Farm manager Lim Chee Wah said workers notified him about the fire at 7.15am and he called the fire and rescue service.

He said the 30 workers at the farm tried to put out the blaze but failed as the fire spread fast.

The fire destroyed almost 80 percent of a coop 61mx25m, he said, adding that this was the first time a fire had occurred at the farm since it was opened two years ago.

Meanwhile, Tanjung Malim Fire and Rescue chief Abdul Rahim Saari said their service was summoned at 7.45am and two trucks of firemen were rushed there, one from Tanjung Malim and the other from Kuala Kubu Baru.

He said the fire was brought under control in 25 minutes.

There were three blocks of coops but only one, which had the chicks, caught fire, he said, adding that the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained.