P.E.I. poultry fire likely caused by fan, say investigators

Oct. 29, 2013. Spring Valley, PEI – The fire marshal’s office in Prince Edward Island says a fire that destroyed as many as 20,000 hens at a poultry farm was accidental.

Sunday’s fire at Murray’s Poultry Farm also damaged one of the operation’s huge barns.

Investigators say the blaze was likely caused by an overheated fan motor, which caused the surrounding material to combust.

Farm owner Leith Murray suspects that while some of the chickens would have died in the fire, most would have suffocated or died from smoke inhalation.

Kensington and New London fire departments responded to the call.

Kensington fire chief Alan Sudsbury says firefighters were on scene for about two hours.