Some 19,000 chickens were killed Monday morning in a Cherokee County fire.

Firefighters were called to the 800 block of Sam Nelson Road in Canton around 9:45 a.m. and arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from a chicken house, according to Tim Cavender, spokesman for the county’s fire department.

The 400-foot-long structure was a complete loss, and the majority of the chickens perished, Cavender said. No humans were injured.

The blaze was under control shortly after 10 a.m. and Sam Nelson Road was temporarily blocked in the area.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

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Instructor Daniel Jean-Baptiste reminds students to "measure twice, cut once" while using a hand saw at the Construction Ready accelerated summer program at Westside Works in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The program provides training for careers in construction and the skilled trades. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com