Guinea Pig Perishes, 22 Birds Survive In Chicken Coop Fire: Official

HARFORD COUNTY, MD ? A chicken coop caught fire Saturday morning at a property in Churchville and while 22 chickens and chicks survived, one guinea pig died.

The fire was discovered by the owners, James and Jean Nausbaum, shortly after 8 a.m. May 4 at their home located at 8 Asbury Rd. The Nausbaums tried to extinguish it with a garden hose, but the fire quickly spread to two tarp-covered buildings, according to the state fire marshal's office.

Twenty firefighters with the Level Volunteer Fire Company arrived to extinguish the fire within 10 minutes. The 22 chickens and chicks were spared since they were in a separate chicken run but a guinea pig whose pen was connected to the burning chicken coop didn't survive. Officials have ruled the fire accidental and attributed it to a heat lamp. Damage and loss of contents has been estimated at $5,000.