Manure Fire Destroys Outbuilding at Caroline County Poultry Farm

Caroline County, MD - A fire broke out early Saturday morning at a poultry farm in Ridgely, Maryland, destroying an outbuilding used to store manure and damaging nearby farm equipment.

The incident was reported at 7:34 a.m. on May 30, 2026, in the 13000 block of Oakland Road in Caroline County, Maryland. A family member spotted the fire inside the outbuilding and called 911.

The Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department responded with 31 firefighters and had the fire under control within one hour. It took one alarm to bring enough resources to the scene.

The structure involved was a 100 by 50 foot wood framed outbuilding. Investigators determined the fire started inside the building and was caused by spontaneous combustion of stored manure, which is listed as accidental.

The fire spread quickly, causing significant damage to the structure and farm equipment stored nearby. The outbuilding is considered a total loss, with damage estimated at $100,000.

Spontaneous combustion in manure and compost piles is not uncommon on working farms.

Organic materials like poultry manure can generate heat as they break down, and under the right conditions that heat can build up enough to start a fire without any outside spark or flame.

Proper storage, ventilation, and regular monitoring of manure piles are recommended to reduce the risk of this type of fire.

Photo Credit: State Fire Marshal's Office