Fire ravages Winship Farms potato warehouses

Contributed Photo/Jessica Ferro
FRIDAY FIRE — Two potato warehouses owned by David Winship of Linneus were destroyed along with numerous pieces of equipment and product. The loss was estimated at more than $1 million.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    LINNEUS — Firefighters from Linneus and Hodgdon were called to the home of David Winship early Friday morning as a fire ravaged a pair of potato warehouses on Winship’s property causing about $1 million in losses.
    According to Winship, the fire was first noticed at 6:30 a.m. John Folsom, fire chief for Linneus, was one of the first on the scene as he was passing by the residence on his way to work.
     Folsom said he saw two tractors parked near the warehouse and was able to move both vehicles out of harm’s way. One of the tractors had a wall leaning on it, but Folsom was still able to get inside and drive it to safety.
    Firefighters from Linneus and Hodgdon battled the blaze, which quickly spread through the 45,000 square foot structure that featured two metal warehouses connected by a walkway.
    “Because the buildings were all-steel structures, it spread pretty quickly and made it difficult to attack,” Folsom said. “We were unable to get access to the roof, to cut holes to disperse the heat.”
    Folsom added by the time he arrived the building was already fully involved with portions of the walls leaning outward.
    The chief said it was nearly impossible to determine a source for the ignition. Winship speculated that it was likely electrical in nature.
    “Nobody was in there at the time it happened,” Winship said. “We were in there working yesterday, but everyone left at 5 p.m.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
NOT MUCH LEFT — An old potato truck sits next to a pile of metal and debris Friday morning at the Winship Farm in Linneus after fire destroyed two large potato warehouses. David Winship, the owner of the potato farm, estimated his losses at more than $1 million.
    Winship said the buildings could house 50,000 barrels of potatoes. In addition, there was a packing shed attached. Inside the structure were 30 trailer loads of seed potatoes, enough for nearly the 200 acres Winship plants on a yearly basis. Some of the seed potatoes were also ready to be shipped to other areas.
    “I will have to go find some seed to plant,” he said. “Who knows? I might be able to salvage some of the seed for my own personal use. We just don’t know yet.”
    Winship said the building and equipment was fully insured. He didn’t think the setback would prevent him from planting this spring.
    “I still have a month to pull things together,” he said. “If this had happened in May, it would be a different story. Other potato farmers have offered to help because we all stick together.”
    Among the pieces of equipment lost in the fire were new two battery-powered forklifts; a $30,000 potato washer; and two bagging machines worth $25,000 apiece. Winship estimated he lost $500,000 in equipment alone.
    The property featured many additions over the years. There was an original 40-foot by 40-foot potato house built in 1938. In 1990, a 40×70 potato house was added and in 1995 another 40×50 addition was created. The original potato house was torn down in 2001. In 2008, another addition was built.
    That section was finished with the help of about 40 community members who rallied around Winship following the death of his father.
    “All of the buildings out there were built by us,” Winship said. “There were no contractors involved.”
    Winship said the support from the community was tremendous, with food being sent to the house from Shamrock Café and calls coming in offering to help rebuild.
    “It’s been great, but there is nothing we can do right now,” Winship said. “Sometimes you trip on a stone once and awhile. I take what comes at me and that’s all I can do.”