Early morning chicken house fire in Willards under investigation

WILLARDS, Md. – An early morning chicken house fire in Willards remains under investigation.

The fire was reported at around 5:45 a.m. at 9209 New Hope Road. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in approximately 30 minutes.

Maryland State Fire Marshals were called to the scene and say the cause of the fire remains under investigation. We’re told approximately 20,000 chickens died in the fire, and the farm had a contract with Amick Farms to raise the chickens.

Total damage has been estimated at $175,000.