Newburg Farmer Faces $1M Loss After Grain Barn Fire, Relief Fund Launched

NEWBURG, Md. — A Newburg farmer is facing more than $1 million in losses after a fire destroyed a large produce barn this week, and friends have launched a fundraiser to help the family recover.

Investigators with the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said the blaze at Next Step Produce was accidental, caused by discarded fireplace ashes that ignited combustible material inside the 100-by-75-foot structure. Owner Heinz Thomet discovered the fire late Wednesday, Oct. 1, and called 911.

Crews from the Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department, joined by departments across three counties, battled the flames for four hours before bringing them under control. About 50 firefighters were on the scene, hauling water from Aqua Land Marina and working defensively to protect nearby property. No one was injured, but damage is estimated at $250,000 to the building and $800,000 to its contents.

In the aftermath, a family friend created a GoFundMe campaign seeking $30,000 in disaster relief for Thomet and his wife, Gabrielle. Organizer Whitney Valcarcel wrote that the couple “would never ask for your help” but had lost decades of work, seed stock, and specialized grain equipment in the fire.

Next Step Produce has long been known for pioneering organic and heirloom grains in the Mid-Atlantic, supplying farmers markets, bakeries, and restaurants in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. “Every single machine used toward that endeavor has been lost to the fire,” Valcarcel wrote, adding that insurance will not cover the full replacement value.

If you would like to support the Thomet family as they work to rebuild, you can click here to donate to the official GoFundMe campaign

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