Emergency services were called to the blaze around 5pm. Photo / File
Sixty firefighters are battling a huge chicken farm blaze on the outskirts tonight of a Waikato town.
Emergency services received multiple calls that a chicken shed was alight along Maiseys Rd in Waharoa at 5pm.
Fire and Emergency shift manager Paul Radden said the shed measured 168m by 16m.
"On arrival they found the fire well involved," he said.
A third alarm was transmitted, triggering crews from outside the area to attend.
Eighteen trucks and 60 firefighters were at the scene, Radden said.
Crews from as far as Hamilton and Greerton were among the 60 firefighters battling to contain the blaze.
"A Hazmat unit from Hamilton have been called in to monitor multiple gas cylinders at the property," Radden said.
Eighteen fire trucks were at the farm.
There were no reports of injuries.
A spokeswoman said that there were no chickens on site and therefore no harm to any animals either.
Police were at the scene managing traffic, a spokesperson said.
Mowbray Rd has been closed and motorists were advised to avoid the area.
St John Ambulance did not attend, a spokeswoman said.
The 26.7ha site houses 242,000 birds and was given council backing to build in December 2018.
The farm occupies 6.1ha of the 26.7ha houses the birds in six sheds that will take up 1.6ha. The balance of the land will be available for ranging by the birds.
Owned by Two Lands Limited (formally Matamata Poultry), the new farm, including land, cost $16-$18 million, Stuff reported.
Two Lands director Matthew Sutherland said the company expanded to meet demand for more free-range chicken, which required more shed space to farm the birds at a lower stocking density.
‘This is about a bigger sort of commitment that we have to te reo Māori.’