At least 18,000 chickens were killed in a fire on an intensive poultry farm in the province of Brabant when one of the four sheds burst into flames.

More chickens in the other sheds may also have died from smoke inhalation because the fire brigade was held back by the possible release of asbestos, says the Telegraaf.
Fires at battery hen farms are becoming more common. In July 2011, 170,000 died in a similar fire in Drenthe. In May last year, 20,000 perished in a fire near Utrecht, while 45,000 died in a fire in October 2010.