Faulty extension cord blamed for N.S. fire that killed 10K chickens

A faulty extension cord is believed to have caused a fire at a farm near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, resulting in the deaths of 10,000 chickens. Firefighters responded to the blaze in Pine Grove late Thursday night, determining it was an accidental electrical fault that caused minor damage and no injuries.

This incident follows a separate event on July 25, where a break-in at a farm barn led to the deaths of thousands of chickens. In that case, unknown individuals deliberately turned off ventilation fans, causing the temperature inside the barn to rise to 37 C. The RCMP are still investigating this break-in but have stated that no one has been charged due to a lack of evidence.

Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in their investigation into the July 25 incident. While the recent fire was confirmed as accidental, the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the chickens due to the ventilation system being shut off remain under active investigation.

The farm owner has suffered a significant loss due to both events. The accidental fire, while less severe in its impact compared to the ventilation incident, still contributed to the overall loss of livestock. The RCMP are seeking assistance from the public to identify those responsible for the earlier barn break-in.