A fire at a Perdue Farms research facility in Worcester County, Maryland, destroyed two buildings and killed 6,000 chicks. The fire broke out at 3:15 PM, reports DelmarvaNow.com, and all Perdue employees had left at 2 PM.

Perdue spokesman Julie DeYoung said the research facility, which they call Farm 42, does research on different breeds, nutrition, and feeding programs. The estimated financial loss of the buildings has not yet been determined. Deputies with the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office were on site as of 6 p.m., and their investigation is ongoing, according to DeYoung.

Source: DelmarvaNow.com