Saint Thomas, Pa. - A barn fire in Franklin County early Friday killed 11,000 turkeys that were just two weeks old, according to state police.

Firefighters were called to the farm on Jack Road in Saint Thomas Township around 2:30 Friday morning. When they got there, there were no flames - just thick smoke.

"It smolders and then the radiant heat spreads out, so it's a very long slow, process,” said Tpr. Jeff Sarver, a state police fire marshal.

Nearly all of the baby turkeys, or poults, were killed.

“The ones on the southern end of the building sustained fire damage and the ones on the north side of the building had smoke inhalation,” said Sarver.

Sarver says he was originally looking at gas heat lamps as a possible cause, but now believes a short in the timer of the electrical curtains which insulate the barn sparked the blaze.

“The plastic drop ceiling starts to melt and drop down on the floor, and started lighting the wooden chips on the floor, which then spread to the cardboard that surrounded the small peeps,” said Sarver.

The farmer who owns the property said he didn't want to go on camera because of his religion, but told abc27 the turkeys had just arrived from Ontario on Tuesday. He says insurance should take care of the loss, and is thankful his barn wasn't badly damaged.

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