TOWN OF WAPPINGER – Firefighters from New Hackensack and New Hamburg responded to a reported fire in a chicken coop on Saturday night.
The two departments arrived at 41 Widmer Road in the Town of Wappinger at approximately 11:45 Saturday night and found a working fire in a large backyard chicken coop.
The structure, estimated to be 20 feet wide and 30 feet long, was populated with chickens at the time. Many of the birds escaped as firefighters were extinguishing the flames. Several firefighters went into neighboring yards to shepherd the birds back to the area of the coop.
The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation. The first responders did notice that electricity to the structure was carried through extension cords that are not designed for outdoor use.
The homeowners were unable to determine if any of the animals perished in the fire.
