A towering column of smoke rose over Palmyra on Thursday after a large fire ripped through part of the Cold Spring Egg Farm, destroying one of the facility’s eight buildings and triggering a massive regional response. Neighbors spotted flames early in the day and called in the alarm, and fire crews spent hours chasing hot spots as the blaze was brought under control. Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation while emergency units wrap up on-site operations.
One Building Lost, Fire Appears Contained
The blaze tore through one of eight buildings at the Cold Spring Egg Farm in Palmyra, according to WISN 12 News. WISN's News Chopper 12 captured a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles and reported that by midafternoon the fire appeared to be contained. The station also noted that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation listed the nearby highway shutdown as related to a grass fire.
Five-Alarm Response From Across The Region
Officials upgraded the incident to a five-alarm fire, drawing mutual-aid crews from Jefferson, Waukesha, Rock, Dane, Dodge, Washington and Walworth counties, according to TMJ4. The Whitewater Fire Department said the fire involved adjoining buildings used to store tools, grain and fertilizer, and that crews remained on scene for more than five hours. Palmyra Public Safety told TMJ4 that no citizens, firefighters or animals were injured and described the affected buildings as a “complete loss.”
Highway 59 Closed During Response
State crews closed Highway 59 in both directions between Piper Road and Steel Brook while firefighters worked the scene, according to WISN 12 News. Detours and emergency traffic slowed commutes through the area as heavy apparatus and tankers moved in and out of the farm. Local officials urged residents to avoid the stretch of highway until cleanup is complete.
Facility Had Recent Avian-Flu Disruption
The Cold Spring site was already under pressure earlier this month when Daybreak Foods temporarily laid off workers after an avian influenza outbreak at the farm, Spectrum News reported. That recent animal-health disruption, which involved depopulation and quarantine steps, adds context to the broader strain on the regional egg supply and to cleanup logistics. Officials have not linked the fire to the earlier outbreak, and they have not reported poultry deaths from Thursday’s blaze.
Investigation Underway
Palmyra Public Safety and the State Fire Marshal's Office were on scene to investigate the cause and scope of the damage, TMJ4 reported. Authorities said they plan to release more details once investigators complete their on-site work and determine whether any environmental or animal-health follow-ups are necessary. This story will be updated as officials provide further information.
