Rochelle Fire Department, along with Steward and Creston fire departments, responded to a fire at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning in a chicken coop located at 17205 E. Ritchie Road in rural Rochelle.
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ROCHELLE — Rochelle Fire Department, along with Steward and Creston fire departments, responded to a fire at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning in a chicken coop located at 17205 E. Ritchie Road in rural Rochelle.
Rochelle Chief Dave Sawlsville said the fire is believed to have originated from a heat lamp used in an incubator for baby chicks. A total of three engines and a tender responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the blaze.
Rochelle resident Brad Schabacker saw the fire on his way to work, alerting the homeowner of the fire. He helped free 30 chickens and one rabbit trapped in the coop.
“Me and my coworker were driving by on our way to the job site and noticed the building on fire so we stopped and knocked on their door. They didn’t know their building was on fire,” Schabacker said. “We asked her if there was anything in the building and she said the chickens were in there so we just went around and opened the door and they all came out.”
Crews were on scene for about an hour. Damages are estimated to be around $5,000.
