A massive fire ravaged a chicken farm in Cheshire, creating a significant smoke plume in the area. Fire crews dispatched ten fire engines to The Grange on Checkley Lane near Bridgemere. Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the extensive smoke.
The fire ignited at approximately 6:30 am and firefighters worked for over 12 hours to contain it. Pictures shared by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service depicted a completely destroyed chicken shed covering an area of four acres, equivalent to more than two football fields.
Witnesses on the M6 and nearby areas reported seeing a large smoke column rising from the site. Specialist equipment, including an aerial ladder platform and water bowser, was used to combat the blaze.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue stated that firefighters were actively engaging the fire in the empty chicken shed, employing multiple hose reels and main jets to prevent further spread. Residents were urged to keep doors and windows shut due to the thick smoke.
By 4 pm, the operation had scaled down to two fire engines and an HRET appliance, with firefighters continuing to dampen the scene. Aaron Collis, Area Manager at Cheshire Fire and Rescue, commended the cooperative efforts of emergency personnel in containing the fire. An investigation with Cheshire Constabulary into the fire’s cause will commence soon.
