Sunday blaze kills 200 pigs in Sherman

File photo
SIDES FARM — Sam Sides provides feed for his pigs in this file photo from March 2010. A fire Sunday evening destroyed Sides’ barn, killing about 200 pigs trapped inside.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    SHERMAN — Electrical wiring is believed to be the cause of a barn fire in Sherman Sunday evening that destroyed a farm, killing about 200 pigs.
    According to Sherman Fire Chief Todd Hayes, the fire was reported at 11:15 p.m. by Sam Sides, owner of Sides Family Farm on the Sleeper Road. At the time of his call, Sides was inside the barn trying to rescue some of his animals, Hayes said.
    “When we arrived the fire was coming out of the roof pretty good,” Hayes said. “It was fully engulfed. There was nothing we could do.”
    The 70-by-170-foot barn was adjacent to another barn and Sides’ residence, the chief said. Neither of those buildings were damaged in the blaze.
    Sides had been growing a prospering pig farm, featuring naturally grown pork products such as bacon, sausage, smoked meats, smoked shoulders, loins, boneless loins, whole loins, pork chops, bone-in, bone-out and ribs.
    Sides told WLBZ-2 TV that he had gone out to the barn to check on two sows that he expected to give birth in the night.
    “It’s pretty devastating for me and my business,” he told WLBZ-2. “I just hope that we’re able to pick up and move on, and still sell pork.”
    He purchased the farm in June 2009.
    The farm, which supplied pork products to about 70 Maine grocery stores including Hannaford and IGA stores, was insured.