A Sept. 14 fire at Flett Pheasantry at 112 Mile, south of Lac la Hache, destroyed a building containing around 200 exotic chukar partridge chicks.
108 Mile Ranch Volunteer Fire Department chief Marcelle Ried says the call came in around 7:45 p.m. and had 26 members and seven trucks responding with mutual aid from Lac la Hache Volunteer Fire Department and 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue.
The bird barn was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived, but he notes they were surprised to see it was a smaller building than expected based on initial information.
Home-based business owner Linsday Flett says around 100 adult pheasants of various exotic breeds were successfully rescued from the outdoors pen attached to the burning barn.
Flett adds the quick response and efforts to save the other buildings, including the house, are much appreciated by him and his wife.
"Both Vicki and I want to thank the fire departments because they were just excellent, every one of them was awesome. They're the real heroes."