Cherokee County -- January 19, 2026: A fire at Andrews Valley Poultry Farm in Cherokee County, North Carolina, resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of chickens and is under investigation. The blaze, which destroyed one barn, prompted a large response from multiple agencies.
Incident Details
The fire was reported at 9:18 p.m. Friday near Dutt & Wagner Inc. and the poultry farm on Taylors Creek Road. Firefighters arriving on scene found one of the eight barns fully engulfed in flames. Approximately 85,000 to 86,000 chickens died as a result of the fire, and property damage is estimated at $5 million.
More than a dozen agencies responded to the incident, including 12 fire departments from Cherokee County, Clay County, and Fannin County, Georgia. Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management, E-911, and the Town of Andrews water department also assisted. Firefighters used over 160,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze, which took until after 3 a.m. Saturday. Neighboring fire departments were on standby during the operation.
Investigation and Impact
The Cherokee County Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire. The Fire Marshal described the response as a "very large operation" with full county involvement. The investigation into the fire's cause and origin is ongoing, and further details are pending.
The poultry farm is part of Dutt & Wagner of North Carolina. No injuries to humans were reported. Information is based on reports from January 17-18, 2026; no newer developments on the investigation are in available sources.
The fire's impact on the local poultry industry is not yet fully known. Radio traffic confirms the scale of the multi-agency response.
WNCTimes