GUMBORO, DELAWARE (4/1/2015) A poultry house fire killed 21,000 six-week-old chickens and caused $400,000 damage this evening, authorities said.
The fire in the 36000 block of Jones Church Road was reported about 6:30 p.m. in a 500 foot by 40 foot building.
The state Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the blaze was accidental.
The fire erupted at an electrical outlet at one end of the building due to an electrical malfunction, said Michael Chionchio, assistant state fire marshal..
Gumboro firefighters battled the blaze but the building was destroyed.
There were no reported injuries to civilians or firefighters, Chionchio said.