BALANGA CITY –The Bureau of Fire Protection reported Wednesday that more than 50,000 broiler chickens were roasted in the poultry farm fire here last Saturday while about 80,000 others were not touched by the blaze but died probably due to smoke.
Chief Inspector Roderick, BFP–Balanga City fire chief, said the 50,000 chickens were in the poultry house in Building 1 that housed also the bodega where feeds were stored while the 80,000 others were in Building 2 that was spared from the fire.
“Maaaring nadamay dahil nausukan ang sinasabing 80,000 na namatay sa kabilang building na hindi nasunog,” the city fire marshal said. Also burned aside from Building 1 was a residential house attached to the structure.
Marquez said the fire that started at 5:49 p.m. Saturday was placed under control at 6:15 p.m. and fireout at 7:40 p.m.
He said they had pinpointed that the fire started at the bodega of feeds but investigation was still going on as to the cause of the blaze.
Four firetrucks, two from Balanga City and one each from Abucay and Pilar, and a water tanker from the city disaster risk reduction management office responded to the fire that saved Building 2 of the poultry farm.
Marquez said that they were still ascertaining the amount of damage caused by the fire.
In an interview Sunday, Elvira Tamayo, owner of the poultry farm in Upper Tuyo, Balanga City, estimated the damage at P30 million for the building, P6 million for 50,000 23-day-old chickens and P1 million for 500 bags of feeds or total of P37 million.
Marquez said they turned over to the owner of the poultry farm the cash vault they recovered.
