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A huge fire killed 50,000 chickens at a Dutch farm on Saturday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The blaze, which began in a manure storage area, quickly spread. It reached one of the four barns at the farm in Limburg, where about 200,000 chickens are kept.<\/p>\n The chickens were locked inside the barn and could not escape, as is common in large chicken farms. Barns are sealed for security and ventilation, leaving the animals with no way out during a fire.<\/p>\n The farmer described the loss as \u201cquite sad\u201d to Dutch news media NOS<\/a>. \u201cYou don\u2019t become a farmer to lose animals, so it hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n Fire crews fought the blaze and prevented it from spreading to other barns with chickens. Officials warned that the fire produced heavy smoke. Nearby residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed and switch off ventilation systems to avoid inhaling fumes.<\/p>\n The fire also damaged solar panels, scattering debris near the forested area close to a recreation park. Firefighters warned that the debris could harm grazing animals.<\/p>\n In 2024, there were 42 major barn fires across the Netherlands<\/a>, killing over 62,000 animals. One big fire in Puiflijk burned 50,000 chickens.<\/a><\/p>\n Insurance agencies have repeatedly urged farmers to improve fire safety. The failure of electrical systems and maintenance work are often the main causes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We\u2019re an independent animal news platform based in the Netherlands. We want our coverage of animal-related issues, conservation efforts, and human impacts on wildlife to remain free for everyone.<\/p>\n But running an independent newsroom costs money. That\u2019s why we need your help. Even a one-time donation of \u20ac1 or a small monthly gift can make a big difference to our work. Because we are a small news team, your support really counts.<\/p>\n Thank you for considering supporting us.<\/p>\n Your support helps us share animal news<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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