Barn fire kills hundreds of chickens over the weekend

DARTMOUTH, Mass. — A fire in Dartmouth over the weekend destroyed a large barn and killed hundreds of chickens, WPRI reports.

The flames, which ravaged the barn on the farm at 875 Horseneck Road, is estimated to have caused tens of thousands of dollars.

On Cluck and Trowel's farm, the barn is a crucial part of the everyday operations. Now, burned to the ground, all that's left is a giant pile of debris.

Sarah Cogswell, one of the co-founders of the family-run business, noticed the fire at around 5:45 a.m. on Saturday when she was getting ready for the Pawtucket Farmer's Market.

"Being a small farm, this is a huge hit," said Cogswell. "We had all of our tools, equipment - I had a small walk behind tractor that’s in here."

While Cogswell called 911 immediately, the flames were spreading too fast and nothing could be saved.

"Not a thing, in fact the first fireman on wanted to go in and get out some equipment and you couldn’t, there was no way," said Cogswell.

Inside the barn was the meat set to be sold at the farmer's market and hundreds of young chickens that were set to lay eggs this summer.

"It was excruciating to just know that you could do nothing," Cogswell said. "Cleanup is crucial, just to look out the door, I’m surprised every time I see it, it’s just heartbreaking."

The organic farm has been in business for about four years.

Cogswell says she hopes to get everything back to the way it was and says that, while the fire destroyed the barn, it did not destroy her passion.

"I love farming, this is what I’m gonna do, this is how I’m gonna move forward but it just may look a little different this year," Cogswell said.

Several fire departments assisted in putting out the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Cox Media Group