Palmyra egg farm fire adds to concerns amid bird flu issues
Palmyra egg farm fire adds to concerns amid bird flu issues
A barn fire at a Palmyra egg farm destroyed a building on Thursday, April 23, and added to concerns from neighbors already dealing with avian flu composting and ongoing odor complaints.
PALMYRA, Wis. - A barn fire at a Palmyra egg farm Thursday, April 23, sent a large plume of smoke into the sky, adding to ongoing concerns from neighbors already dealing with bird flu-related operations in the area.
What we know:
Fire crews from multiple agencies responded to the scene at an unoccupied commercial building owned by Daybreak Foods, which operates farms along Wisconsin Highway 59, around 1:15 p.m. Thursday. Crews arrived to find heavy fire throughout about half the building, with wind pushing flames across the rest of the structure.
The Palmyra Fire and Rescue Department said the building was a total loss, but no other nearby structures were damaged. No civilians, firefighters, or other types of injuries – such as animals – were injured.
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Mutual aid departments and support agencies, including We Energies and the Salvation Army, assisted at the scene.
The fire could be seen for miles.
Wisconsin DNR: Fire danger high, very high across state Thursday
The Wisconsin DNR has asked the public to avoid outdoor burning with fire danger considered "high" or "very high" across the entire state Thursday.
The blaze comes as Daybreak Foods continues to deal with avian flu outbreaks, which have forced the depopulation of nearly 3 million chickens this year. Carcasses have been composted at nearby sites, drawing complaints from neighbors about odor, water quality and potential health impacts.
What they're saying:
"It’s annoying. It’s, you know, it’s part of living out here I guess now, but it shouldn’t be," said Brian Faltinson of Palmyra. "You move next to a farm in a farming area, and it smells like a farm, and that's just what you live with. This is not that."
Residents say the fire only adds to their concerns about living near the farms.
"It’s a lot, and it’s gotta be detrimental to any farm. And I do feel for them — that’s a hard thing to lose. And especially with the wind today, that’s an impossible thing to control," said Sydney Meyer.
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Meyer, a riding instructor in the area, said she has lost business due to the smell from composting operations, which she says drives clients away.
"It’s hard, you know. I feel for ’em, but at the same time, it’s frustrating. I mean, yeah, they’re bad neighbors," Meyer said. "[...] And especially with the wind today, that's an impossible thing to control."
Dig deeper:
Officials said a fire watch will remain in place for 48 hours as crews monitor the scene. Daybreak Foods did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
There is no word yet on the cause of the fire.
Palmyra chicken farm fire
A large fire broke out at a chicken farm in Palmyra on Thursday, April 23. Multiple fire agencies responded.
The Source: The Palmyra Fire and Rescue Department provided information and FOX6 had a crew at the scene.