Two fires broke out last weekend in the Haut-Saint-Laurent region. The most serious of the two was a fire in Elgin that gutted a large poultry barn housing some 4000 chickens.
According to our information, the fire started around 2:15 a.m. between December 1st and 2nd at Markus Ritter’s farm on the 3rd Concession in Elgin.
The production of organic chickens and eggs is considered a total loss. Ritter’s wife, Catherine Gruber, wrote on his Facebook page that, « over 2600 laying hens and 1500 pullets perished. No one was injured… the house and barn are ok and also the new nesting boxes. It’s really sad and unfortunate, but we’ll get through it like anything else. »
She took the opportunity to thank the volunteer firefighters and everyone else who turned up to offer their help.
The fire department from Constable, NY coordinated operations with the assistance of fellow firefighters from Fort Covington, NY, Hinchinbrooke, Godmanchester and Huntingdon.
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
