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A homemade chicken coop went up in flames early Sunday morning on Madison's Southeast Side, causing about $30,000 in damage and killing the five chickens housed in the coop.

The fire was reported at about 12:45 a.m. on Treichel Street, the Madison Fire Department said.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze.

"The family said they just acquired the chickens three days before the fire," said MFD spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster.

When firefighters arrived, the chicken coop already was destroyed and flames were rolling along the side of the garage.

"Firefighters removed two propane cylinders situated alongside the garage as other firefighters knocked the fire down with hydrant water and foam," Schuster said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but two heavy-duty heat lamps being used inside the coop could be the starting point of the unintentional fire.

"As residents try to keep their backyard chickens warm during these frigid temperatures, make sure heat lamps are attached to proper electrical sources, with heavy-duty lamps using heavy-duty cords," Schuster said.

"Lamps should also be firmly secured and kept out of direct contact with the contents inside the chicken coop," she said.

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