Early morning barn fire claims chickens, pigs at Christner Farms
An early morning barn fire claimed the lives more than 100 chickens and seven pigs at Christner Farms in Dawson on Monday, but it won’t impact the family-run business’s farmers market and nursery.
Eleven volunteer fire companies from Fayette County, a company from Westmoreland County and one from Washington County responded to the fire, which started at 1:24 a.m., according to Fayette County 911.
The barn was destroyed, but no one was hurt and state police fire marshals are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
An electrical malfunction is believed to be the cause, said Brandon Christner, who works on the farm with his father, Matt Christner, who owns the farm.
“We’re going to come together as a family, and we’re going to work through it,” Christner said.
The farm remains open seven days a week, and a full line of vegetables are being planted for the farmers market, he said. Harvesting should begin in a couple months.
He said the farm has been in the family since the 1960s.
They opened the farmers market a couple years ago, and the nursery has been in operation for about 15 years, Christner said.
Landscaping and construction of patios, walkways, retaining walls and driveways are also part of the business.
The fire was “deja vu,” Christner said. His grandmother’s house, which stood adjacent to the barn, was destroyed in a fire seven years ago, he said.
Responding to the barn fire was the Dawson, Everson, D.L.&V, Connellsville Township, South Connellsville, Perry Township, Fayette City, New Haven Hose, Monarch, Morrell and Smock volunteer fire companies along with the companies from Westmoreland and Washington counties. They remained at the scene until just before 5 a.m. Fayette EMS and the state police fire marshals also responded.