The city of Abbotsford, B.C., says about 165,000 chickens were killed after multiple barns caught on fire.

The city said in an email the fire happened at about 4 p.m. Thursday in a rural area south of Abbotsford on Gladwin Road.

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Services deployed 13 crews to the scene, and firefighters had to bring in excavators to help put out the fire.

The city says one firefighter had to be hospitalized due to heat exhaustion, and Gladwin Road was closed for several hours.

Abbotsford South legislator Bruce Banman said in a social media post that three barns were destroyed.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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