2019 Fire at Hickman’s Family Farms: A Wake-Up Call for Tonopah

On April 4, 2019, a massive fire tore through a newly constructed barn at Hickman’s Family Farms in Tonopah, Arizona, raising fresh concerns about the safety and environmental risks posed by this industrial-scale poultry operation. At Tonopah S.T.O.P.P. (Save Tonopah Oppose Poultry Plant), we see this incident as yet another red flag in our ongoing fight to protect our community’s health, environment, and quality of life from the dangers of Hickman’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). This blog post details the fire, its implications, and why it strengthens our resolve to oppose Hickman’s expansion in our town.

The Incident: A Timeline of the Fire

On April 4, 2019, at approximately 4:15 p.m., a fire broke out at Hickman’s Family Farms near 420th Avenue and Indian School Road in Tonopah, AZ. The blaze engulfed a barn that was under construction and not yet housing chickens, sparing livestock but resulting in significant structural damage. Here’s a detailed timeline based on available reports:

4:15 p.m.: The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a large building fire at Hickman’s facility. The barn, intended to house hens as part of the farm’s expansion, was empty at the time.
Immediate Response: Firefighters from Buckeye, Buckeye Valley, Tonopah, and Harquahala Valley fire departments, alongside sheriff’s deputies, rushed to the scene. The fire was escalated to a 2nd-alarm status, signaling the need for additional resources to control the blaze.
Containment: Firefighters successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other buildings. However, the barn collapsed, with damages estimated in the millions. A neighboring barn sustained minor smoke and heat damage.
Aftermath: No injuries were reported, largely because the fire occurred during a shift change, and no chickens were in the barn. Hickman’s reported no disruption to egg production or distribution, but the cause of the fire remains undisclosed, leaving critical questions unanswered.

Why This Matters to Tonopah S.T.O.P.P.

At Tonopah S.T.O.P.P., we have long opposed Hickman’s Family Farms due to its environmental and health impacts, including ammonia emissions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants that threaten our air quality and exacerbate the Phoenix metropolitan area’s ozone issues. The April 2019 fire underscores the inherent risks of operating a CAFO with plans for up to 12 million chickens—one of the largest in the U.S.—in our small, unincorporated community.

This fire, while not resulting in loss of life, highlights the potential for disaster in a facility of this scale. The lack of a publicly disclosed cause raises concerns about transparency and accountability. Was it an equipment failure? A construction oversight? Or something else entirely? Without answers, our community is left vulnerable to future risks. Moreover, the fire’s occurrence in a barn under construction suggests that even new infrastructure is not immune to catastrophic failures, amplifying our concerns about the safety of Hickman’s operations.

Environmental and Community Implications

The fire adds to the list of reasons why Hickman’s presence in Tonopah is problematic. Our organization has documented how the facility’s emissions contribute to poor air quality, with VOCs exceeding thresholds for major pollution sources. The 2019 fire, while contained, could have released additional pollutants into our air, further threatening the health of residents already dealing with noxious odors, flies, and potential respiratory issues linked to the CAFO.

The incident also raises questions about fire safety protocols at Hickman’s. As we’ve noted in our campaigns, large-scale poultry operations often lack adequate fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers, due to limited federal regulations for barn safety. This fire, though it spared livestock, is a stark reminder of what could happen in a fully operational barn housing thousands of chickens—a scenario that played out in later incidents at Hickman’s, such as the 2021 and 2024 fires that killed millions of birds.

Our Call to Action

The April 4, 2019, fire is a wake-up call for Tonopah. It reinforces why Tonopah S.T.O.P.P. continues to fight for stricter regulations, comprehensive air quality monitoring, and sustainable alternatives to Hickman’s industrial operations. We urge our community to join us in demanding:

Transparency: Hickman’s must disclose the cause of the fire to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents.
Stronger Regulations: Regulatory agencies must enforce stricter air quality and safety standards for CAFOs to protect our environment and health.
Community Advocacy: Residents should support our campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of Hickman’s operations and push for a cleaner, healthier Tonopah.

How You Can Help

Tonopah S.T.O.P.P. is committed to turning awareness into action. Here’s how you can join our movement:

Donate: Your contributions fuel our advocacy efforts, from legal battles to public awareness campaigns. Visit tonopahstopp.com to support our cause.
Get Involved: Join our initiatives to improve air quality, safeguard community health, and promote sustainable practices. Sign up on our website to stay informed and participate.
Spread the Word: Share this blog post and our mission with friends, family, and neighbors to amplify our voice.

Conclusion

The fire at Hickman’s Family Farms on April 4, 2019, was a stark reminder of the risks posed by industrial-scale poultry operations in Tonopah. While we are grateful no lives were lost, the incident highlights the need for greater oversight, transparency, and community action to protect our town. At Tonopah S.T.O.P.P., we remain steadfast in our mission to oppose Hickman’s Egg Farm and ensure a brighter, cleaner future for our community. Join us in this fight—together, we can make a difference.