Sep 15, 2018 1 min read

Three chickens were killed and a garage heavily damaged when a shed with an attached chicken coop caught fire outside a residence in West Finley Township late Monday night.

West Finley fire Chief Steve Emery said firefighters were called to the home of Gerald Seibel, 364 Majorsville Road, about 11:45 p.m. He said the initial report was a shed on fire close to a garage.

When firefighters arrived, the shed was engulfed in flames and the siding attached to the cinder block garage had already started to melt.

Emery said Seibel was awakened by his dogs barking and looked out to see the glow from the flames. Seibel immediately went out, threw the breaker in the garage and used a hose on the siding until firefighters arrived.

Firefighters were able to quickly douse the flames. Firefighters from Dallas, W.Va., also responded to assist. Emery said firefighters from Morris Township, Claysville and Richhill also were called but their response was canceled once the fire was knocked down.

One chicken and a cat were able to escape from the building.

A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause.