FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A poultry farm fire that killed about 17,000 birds Monday may have been the result of a mechanical failure.

Forsyth County Fire Department Division Chief Nathan Shivers said “Nothing about this appears to be suspicious. All indications are it was some kind of mechanical failure, although it is under investigation.”

The blaze took place off Pea Ridge Road in North Forsyth County near the Dawson County line and was reported about 4:30 p.m. The chicken house was fully involved when the firefighters arrived.

“Those buildings burn very, very quickly because they are such big, open, cavernous spaces,” Shivers said. “Fortunately we were able to keep the fire from spreading to the other 11 buildings on the property and there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.”

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