A massive fire that broke out a few weeks ago at a large Texas chicken farm. Now, this isn’t just any farm. We’re talking about Feather Crest Farms, located in Kurten, Texas, which is about 100 miles north of Houston, in Brazos County. This incident has sparked a huge emergency response, and it’s something that’s going to affect the community and the farm for quite some time.
The fire was so massive that firefighters were on the scene for several days to ensure the blaze did not rekindle. The footage coming out of the area is just heartbreaking. Ground footage shared by Jim Suydam with KBTX shows the fire continues to rage into the night. It’s a stark reminder of the unpredictability and the power of nature.
Ground footage shared by Jim Suydam with KBTX shows that the fire at Feather Crest Farms continues to burn into the night. Firefighters have come from other counties nearby to help out.
🔴DETAILS –> https://t.co/yVA74bzWPG pic.twitter.com/BMRMuASrZT
— 🚨 Rusty Surette 🚨 (@KBTXRusty) January 30, 2024
Thankfully, there were no workers or other people injured or killed in the fire, which is a small piece of good news amidst this disaster.
The response to this fire has been overwhelming. About 100 firefighters from multiple departments across the area have come together to try to contain the blaze. This kind of cooperation is truly commendable. Jason Ware, the deputy emergency management coordinator for Brazos County, noted that upon their arrival, the fire was contained to two buildings on the Feather Crest Farms property. But the scale of this operation cannot be understated—it’s a massive effort.
As of now, the cause of the fire remains a mystery. There’s been no word on what started it, and the investigation is ongoing. The footage shared by photographer James Nowak with KBTX shows the fire burning on the south end near Democrat Road, but still, no clues on the ignition source.
Large fire after explosion heard at Feather Crest chicken farm in Kurten Texas pic.twitter.com/aHJa71Afit
— Truth Slinger X (@TruthSlingerX) January 30, 2024
The impact of this fire is far-reaching. Not only could black smoke be seen for miles around, hinting at the severity of the blaze, but the firefighting efforts have also affected local residents. Some experienced low water pressure, while others were left without power after it was cut to the farm to ensure safety.
Brazos County Sheriff Wayne Dicky made an appeal to local residents, urging them not to drive to the scene. It’s critical that emergency vehicles have unobstructed passage to deal with the crisis effectively.
It’s heartbreaking to hear from the farm CEO, Sam Krouse, that one of the buildings that burned down had chickens in it.
The fire has left a mark on the community and the employees of Feather Crest Farms. Some workers, including a construction worker who was in the new building that caught fire, are now out of a job.
The farm has been in business for 70 years and employs 96 people.