March 27, 1964

Fire destroys hatchery, kills 5,000 baby chicks

       White River Township Volunteer Firefighters responded to Walker's Hatchery for a report of a fire.  Thousands of chicks perished, but hundreds of dozens of eggs were saved in a fire which swept the hatchery 2 miles west of here at 6 a.m. today.  More than 20,000 laying hens in another section of the hatchery complex were saved.  But two trucks, a tractor, feeding equipment and hundreds of pounds of feed were destroyed.  The blaze, which is believed to have started from an electrical short in a room where the newly-hatched chicks were kept, was fought a half-hour before being brought under control.  But, firemen remained at the scene several hours extinguishing burning piles of grain and debris.  Quick action by firefighters saved the office, laying house, processing room and egg-grading room.  Firefighters from Greenwood, Whiteland, Whiteland Rural and Perry Township assisted White River in extinguishing the blaze. (Reprinted with permission of the Indianapolis Star)

 

                       
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