Ridgely Farm Fire Caused By Spontaneous Manure Combustion

A quiet Saturday morning on Oakland Road in Ridgely turned dramatic when a 100-foot-by-50-foot farm outbuilding caught fire, sending smoke across nearby fields and damaging farm equipment inside. The structure, used to store manure from the farm’s poultry flock, went up in flames after a family member discovered the fire and alerted authorities. Crews contained the blaze in about an hour, and while no one was hurt, losses were pegged at roughly $100,000.

According to WMAR-2 News, the Maryland State Fire Marshal said investigators determined the fire started after stored poultry manure underwent spontaneous combustion, with flames then spreading to other equipment on the property. The station reported that the blaze began around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and was brought under control by responding crews within about an hour. Officials told WMAR-2 the damage estimate sits near $100,000 and that no one was injured.

Why poultry litter can ignite

The University of Maryland Extension notes that stored poultry litter can generate heat and methane as microbes break down organic material, and that compacting or layering in a shed can trap that heat until it reaches ignition temperatures. Extension guidance explains that moisture differences, pile size, and compaction are common risk factors and that temperatures can climb past 190°F under the right conditions. Producers are advised to monitor litter temperatures and avoid mixing wet and dry material inside storage structures.

How farms can reduce the risk

Per the Maryland Department of Agriculture, safer storage practices include limiting pile height, avoiding layering of wet and dry litter, and conducting regular inspections of manure storage structures. The guide recommends monitoring temperatures and seeking professional help if a pile begins to smolder, since quickly exposing burning litter to air can cause flames to flare up instead of die down.

Regional context

The Ridgely blaze follows a recent chicken-house fire in Federalsburg that state investigators say killed roughly 35,000 birds and left that operation facing about $500,000 in losses. That earlier incident was covered by a Reliance Road inferno that killed roughly 35,000 chickens and local stations, and officials said mechanical or electrical failure was likely to blame.

In Ridgely, investigators with the Maryland State Fire Marshal attributed the fire to spontaneous combustion of stored poultry manure, and responding crews kept the blaze from spreading beyond the outbuilding. Officials say they will provide updates if further information becomes available.