Chickens found during fire in Bronx basement

HIGHBRIDGE, the Bronx (PIX11) — Firefighters responding to a fire in a Bronx building Tuesday morning found caged chickens and roosters in the basement, according to officials and video taken at the scene.

Firefighters were called to the five-story apartment building at 136 West 170th St. between Nelson and Plimpton avenues at around 11:45 a.m., according to the FDNY. There were no injuries.

About two dozen live poultry were in wooden cages in one room of the building’s basement. Some of the animals had plastic food bins outside their cages and were heard loudly squawking.

The FDNY called for animal control, but “by the time we arrived, all of the chickens had been moved,” Katy Hansen with Animal Cares Center of NYC told PIX11 News.

A man identifying himself as the building’s super told PIX11 News that there are no chickens in the building.

Blake Tariq, who lives in the building, told PIX11 News he often sees two to three chickens and roosters in the courtyard.

“They be crowing in the morning; they be making mad noise in the morning. That’s not a way to raise chickens, they need to be free; they’re not supposed to be cooped up in cages and stuff, that’s not good,” Tariq said.

According to NYC Urban Agriculture , New Yorkers can have hens, but roosters geese, ducks, and turkeys are not permitted.

The cause of the fire is unclear.

No fines were issued.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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