Ten fire crews from three counties battled a massive blaze at a four-acre chicken shed on a farm in Cheshire this morning, with plumes of smoke visible for miles around. Crews from Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service worked together to control the fire that started at around 6:30 am on Checkley Lane near Bridgemere.
Firefighting Efforts
Firefighters arrived at the site at 8:00 am and used jet hoses to tackle the fire and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the farm. Specialist teams attended the incident, including a high-reach extending turret from Macclesfield, high-volume pumps from Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and an aerial ladder from Chester that arrived at 8:15 am.
A fire service spokesperson reported that firefighters were 'making good progress' by 9:35 am, and just under an hour later, the fire was declared under control. By 1:15 pm, the blaze was 'partially scaled back,' and some fire crews had left the farm.
Local Impact
Neighbours were advised to keep their doors and windows shut due to the huge plumes of smoke billowing from the empty shed. Carol Barlow, 71, who lives half a mile away from the chicken shed on Buddileigh Farm, described the smoke as 'thick black.' She said: 'I heard the first few fire engines going past and I didn't look but by the fifth and sixth I looked and that’s when I saw the black smoke. It was just billowing and it reached a couple of miles this way, just thick black.'
People as far as South Cheshire and North Staffordshire reported seeing the smoke billowing into the sky. Thankfully, no people or chickens were harmed in the blaze.
Official Statement
Aaron Collis, Area Manager at Cheshire Fire and Rescue, said: 'At approximately 06:30 am, firefighters were called to a significant fire at an empty chicken shed in Checkley. At the height of the incident, ten fire engines from across Cheshire, with support from Staffordshire and Shropshire, alongside a range of specialist appliances, were in attendance. Due to the significant smoke plume, a major incident was initially declared, although this has since been stood down.'
