Hurd Farm reels after fire destroys barn, turkeys days before Thanksgiving

A fire destroyed the Hurd Farm’s processing barn in Hampton early Tuesday, Nov. 18, killing 75 live turkeys and destroying several processed turkeys prepared for Thanksgiving dinners.

Sheryl Hurd said her family’s farm still has just enough turkeys to fulfill existing orders, and no humans were injured in the fire. To salvage their Thanksgiving season, she said, they’ll need to find another business to help process the birds. The family has raised turkeys for about a decade, and the farm has been in their family since 1923.

“After a very successful first day of processing yesterday, we are deeply saddened to report that a fire occurred in the equipment shed overnight, where our processing operation was set up,” the Hurd family posted on Facebook. “We are incredibly thankful that no one was injured.”

‘Terrible timing’ for fire close to Thanksgiving

Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon said the fire was reported by several callers around 2:35 a.m. He said the blaze is still under investigation. The Hurd family, in their social media post, reported the fire resulted in a “total loss” of the building.

McMahon said the fire was “terrible timing” for a family that relies on business at Thanksgiving.

“With the kind of niche business … you could have picked 50 other weeks in the year that would have been better.”

Hurd Farm owners wake up to fire at 2:30 a.m.

The farm wrapped up turkey processing around 10 p.m. on Nov. 17, Hurd said. After shutting off the lights and powering down the equipment, her husband went to bed — then woke at 2:30 a.m. to the sound of popping outside.

“He said, ‘I better get up and look,’” Hurd said. “He did, and this whole thing was all engulfed.”

Hurd said her husband ran outside, and she followed, calling his name after rushing to get dressed. He finally answered, calling back that he needed to move his truck before the fire got to it, which he did.

Seacoast departments rush to help fight fire

McMahon said the fire reached a single alarm, and multiple departments arrived to help. Departments from North Hampton, Exeter, Seabrook, Brentwood, Epping, Greenland, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Newfields, Portsmouth and Rye arrived at the scene to assist, according to McMahon. Four other departments helped with station coverage.

McMahon said there was no water available in that part of town, meaning the department had to rely on vehicles bringing in water.

“That certainly could have been a problem, but it wasn’t with support from our neighbors,” McMahon said.

The structure that burned measured about 30 by 40 feet, according to Hurd, and was built years ago by Steve Hurd’s father. It was a pole barn, supported by telephone poles that stood charred on Tuesday morning amid debris and the remains of previously processed turkeys. The fire also destroyed key equipment, including the farm’s plucker and scalder.

Hurd family reacts to fire

Half of a nearby trailer holding live turkeys was burned, though the portion pointing away from the building was not. Turkeys in that section of the trailer survived and clucked loudly the morning of Nov. 18 as the Hurds stood by looking at the damage.

McMahon said it’s not clear when the fire started, but Sheryl Hurd believes it had been burning for more than two hours before her husband saw it.

Hurd said the family has insurance that will help them get through the fire financially.

“We pay through the nose for insurance,” she said.

Community rallies behind Hurd family after fire

The family has about 500 turkeys left to process, which is about the number of turkeys that have already been sold.

“We’re right on with the people (who have ordered turkeys),” Hurd said. “We won’t sell anymore, obviously, this week.”

The Hurd family also raises beef cattle, pigs and chickens, selling products at their store in the garage of their home on the property, according to Hurd. The farm was established in 1923 by Steve Hurd’s grandfather. Steve grew up there, as did his children, who are now adults.

A GoFundMe page was posted the morning of the fire by a friend of the family. Selectman Rusty Bridle, a former fire captain who was raised in Hampton, visited the family Tuesday morning.

“I let them know that anything they needed, any way we can help, our townspeople, to let me know,” Bridle said. “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time for them.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Max Sullivan