SHERMAN, Maine — About 200 pigs died in a fire at a pig farm off Sleeper Road late Sunday that might have been started by an electrical malfunction, Fire Chief Todd Hayes said Monday. No one was injured.
About 30 firefighters from Island Falls, Oakfield, Patten, Sherman and Stacyville responded to the fire call, which came at about 11:15 p.m., but when the first firefighters arrived, the 70-by-170-foot barn in which the pigs were housed was almost totally destroyed, with the animals trapped inside, Hayes said.
“We couldn’t get near it. It was fully engulfed,” Hayes said. “The farmer had tried to get them [the animals] out, but it was even too late when he got there. The smoke had already gotten to them.”
Hayes said the farm was owned by the Sides family and that family members lived on the premises. A 411.com search listed a Sam Sides at the address, 40 Sleeper Farm Road, but the number appears to be unlisted. Hayes described the farm as fairly large and among the few in his area of southern Aroostook County.
Hayes said he suspected the fire might have been caused by a malfunctioning electrical utility wire.
“He said the wires were arcing out inside of the building,” Hayes said. The farmer called 911 for help from inside the barn as he tried to rescue the pigs.
“He lost everything that he had, his whole herd of pigs, and it is his livelihood,” Hayes said.
Hayes said the Sides family does have insurance, however.
Hayes’ department recently switched from using the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department dispatch radio system to using the Penobscot Regional Communications Center, which probably speeded firefighters’ response to the fire slightly. Area fire departments are now all on one frequency, not several, he said.
A 411.com search? Really? whatever happened to picking up this thing we used to call a telephone to find out information? I can understand why The BDN had no person actually there but c’mon.
because the dang print in the phone book is so small, very few can read it, its a joke, i just throw it aside when it comes.and no i dont have coke bottle glasses and im 50,s.
So a 411.com search is a way to find a phone number, fyi.
Folks, as tempting as it may be to make some kind of light hearted comment. Save it for another story-NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT AN ENTIRE FAMILY WITHOUT THEIR LIVING.
Yep. Even I refrained from it….I hope their insurance company comes through for them.
The article says they were insured, but by the time they get the money in their hand, a barn built and restocked, winter will probably be here again. Too bad.
The town of Sherman is not too far away from the Amish folks in Smyrna is it? I’d be on those builders like white on rice.
You’re right. About 25 miles of 95 plus 2-3 miles backtrack from Smyrna Center (not Mills).
That would be quite a trip by buggy, but I suspect they’d make the journey for that work! :)
noone said mills.
I was simply clarifying the difference for any that may not know there is a difference. The Amish are kinda in between the two.
Sheese
If you have witness the workmanship of the Amish clan one might not want them
anywhere near the building of a new barn…This Sides family has a history of
burned buildings, when it rains it pours…
You’re a pig to write that.
you dont know what your talking about, sam is a yuoung home owner who hasnt owned a house before them. aroostook county has a history of burning buildings…
How ignorant can you be…I only stated that the Sides family had poor
luck…
and this is the first fire that the sides family has had where they actually have insureance! sam is lucky to be alive! how can you do this to soemone who just lost everything!
This is a very sad situation!!
Poor pigs. How horrible. I hope the family is able to rebuild and start over.
Agreed..how tragic for the poor animals, and what an awful way to die.
Thats a huge investment in time and money that went up in smoke.
I am so sorry for your loss, it’s striking everywhere :(
What a horrible thing to happen. Good luck to the family.
Farming is tough enough these days without tragedy befalling these hard workers.
Aw, that is very sad all the way through for this family and the pigs. So sorry
The irony here is these pigs were destined to be killed anyway.
It’s cold comfort to know they weren’t killed for profit.
Sorry for the family. But as a vegetarian of 30 years, I hope you’ll rebuild with another plan in mind.
x
yup. they’re gonna have a tofu farm.
what a selfish thing to say.
I get it! It’s better that they died for no reason at all!
You might be a vegetarian, but not everyone is. I am so happy that you are “comforted” that the family lost all it’s income in that fire.
Vegetarian is an anciet word, meaning “poor hunter”. So you turned to killing poor, defenseless plants that never did anything to you. You brutally hack them up, and some of them you even put into boiling water before they are even completely dead!
I think they WILL rebuild with another plan in mind. A newer, more state of the art building, so they can more efficiently raise more pigs to kill for profit.
Good luck, Sides family.
wow, if the brocolli plant burned down all meat eaters wpouldnt be like “o its so comforting to know that all that broccoli wont be boiled alive!” are you serious? regarless of your opinions this is someones income and business and dreams. this is a young man that has worked harder than anyone i know to get where is is today and the bottom line of it is that he lost ALL that he has worked for. if you dont have something positive or encouraging to say about this misfortune why dont you find some fur store to boycott and stop posting your negative opinions on here. they will rebuild, a farmer is a farmer forever, and you have molars for a reason. why dont you start a farm and you can run it whatever way you want it. other than that go eat a soy burger
If one has witness the workmanship of the Amish clan one might not want them
anywhere near the building of a new barn…This Sides family has a history of
burned buildings, when it rains it pours…
You’re a pig for slurring their good name. Shame on you.
Don’t insult the pigs. They serve a purpose.
Now even at a very young age I knew pigs are only safe in a building made of BRICKS!
How sad! I hope your insurance covers the damages.
Oh my god people lets refrain from all this negitive output! Maybe u all need to ride up to see Sherman, Maine and meet all the wonderful people up there. We have a camp in Stacyville we have meet some real nice people. Most of them are very hard workers. They wave to u,they talk to u,and they care about one another. It’s the way life should be. So all u people with negitive thoughs ride up there and ck it out. read the guide lines Treat others with the same respect you’d want for yourself.(read more) If it was ur job site up in smoke how would u feel. Please keep ur negitive thoughts to ur self.
You people with the negative comments truly have no idea how devastating a fire can be. There’s nothing funny about any of this and the fact is that for people who actually work hard for a living and then to lose it all in a matter of hours, is a TRUE tragedy.
“no one was injured”. Really? How about 200 “ones” were dead? that would be more accurate reporting.
Please take a few moments after reading this article to remember that pigs are living feeling breathing thinking beings. and 200 of them, being held in a barn to be killed, were burned alive. THAT is the biggest tragedy.