14,000 chickens die as factory farm fire death toll tops 100,000 this year

Protestors call for action on factory farm fires. Photo: Alfons Spoler via Wikimedia Commons
Protestors call for action on factory farm fires. Photo: Alfons Spoler via Wikimedia Commons

Some 14,000 chickens have been killed in a fire at a factory farm in the village of Beltrum in the east of Gelderland.

The fire broke out around 4.20pm on Saturday and locals were advised to keep doors and windows closed because of the smoke.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, nor if the heatwave had a role.

The Beltrum fire takes the total number of birds and animals to have died in factory farm fires this year to over 100,000.

Last October, the Dutch safety board said it is starting an investigation into farm fires to establish why such large numbers of animals are being killed.

According to animal rights lobby group Wakker Dier, 176,000 animals died in fires last year.

The government has said it would not force farmers to take further measures to prevent fires breaking out because of the cost of the investment. The current measures do not include compulsory lightning conductors and sprinkler systems.

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