Fire destroys well-known dairy barn

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — A fast-moving fire destroyed a dairy barn on Ripley Road in Dexter Monday morning as nearly 60 firefighters from eight departments battled the blaze in sub-zero temperatures.

Dexter Fire Department photo

    TOTAL LOSS — A dairy barn on Ripley Road in Dexter was destroyed by fire Monday morning.

    The call came in at 8:45 a.m., according to Dexter Fire Chief Matt Connor. “We did keep the fire from jumping to the house nearby,” Connor told the Observer. “When I arrived, the fire was coming out both ends of the barn. Our main concern was to keep water on the house. But it was tough. A lot of equipment kept freezing up.”
    The house was unoccupied since the new owners hadn’t moved in yet.
    Connor said that a little more than 100 milking cows were saved, but 15-20 heifers might have been lost. “People came from all over with trailers to take some of the animals to safety,” Connor said. “The community really responded.”
    The Top of Maine Farm had been operated by Fred and Carol Sherburne since the early 1970s, but it was sold to Jason and Heather Bowden of Corinna in November. “They are just a wonderful young couple and this is such a tragedy,” said Carol Sherburne. “But they have strong faith and they’re going to pull through this.”
    Mrs. Sherburne said that they have had a family connection with the Bowdens for years. “Two of Jason’s uncles kept the farm going when Fred’s father was in ill health,” she said. “They used to come up every day and make sure the cows were milked and everything was running smooth.”
    After the blaze was contained, Route 23 was shut down temporarily while firefighters were shuttled back and forth between the station and the scene to prevent cold-weather injuries. “So far, everyone is all right,” said the chief.
    Contractor Steve Wilbur also used an excavator to move the smoldering hay pile away from the burned structure and nearby house. “That will keep smoking for a month,” Connor said. “It was a really rough day on the firefighters and the equipment. I’m really proud of these guys and all the support we got from mutual aid.”
    The chief said that the state fire marshal’s office has been notified, but it may be difficult – if not impossible – to determine the exact cause. “Just about everything is gone,” he said.
    The Sherburnes’ daughter, Erin Sherburne Campbell of Ipswich, Mass, has started an online GoFundMe account – bowdensbarnraisin – for the couple to help them rebuild the barn and help with other losses.
    As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, more than $5,000 had already been raised.