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Hurd Farm Fire Destroys Processing Shed, Kills 75 Birds a Week Before Thanksgiving

The family is assessing losses, with a recovery plan to follow once they know what holiday orders can be filled.

Overview

  • An overnight blaze tore through the equipment shed at Hurd Farm in Hampton, New Hampshire, wiping out the building that housed its turkey processing operation.
  • Owners said all processing equipment was ruined, 75 live turkeys died, and most birds already processed were lost.
  • The timing threatens a crucial revenue period, as owner Steve Hurd estimates Thanksgiving accounts for about one-third of the farm’s income.
  • Hurd said roughly 550 turkeys are sold and he is seeking outside help to process remaining birds, adding that meeting orders by Sunday will be tight.
  • Hampton’s fire chief said the cause remains under investigation and reported a firefighter suffered minor injuries, with no other injuries reported.