There are many advantages to using a steel building over a traditional pole barn structure, but one of the most important ones may be that steel is a non-combustible material. Steel buildings and pole barns are often used as workshops and garages were flammable materials are stored. No matter how careful the building owners may be, accidents sometimes happen. Below is a story of what happened to one steel building owner when his workshop caught on fire…

“In 1998, I purchased a 36×30 ft. building kit from SteelMaster Building Company. On March 1, 2003, I was working in my building on the fuel tank of my Harley Davidson, when fumes escaped out the gas tank and ignited with a kerosene heater. I tried extinguish the fire, but within seconds, flames were blazing 15 feet high. I had no choice but to call 911 and watched my building burn along with my Harley Davidson. The fire inside the building was so hot it melted and burned everything that was stored in it. The two ends were destroyed and the fiberglass sunlight panels in the roof were demolished. However, the steel building is still intact with minimal damage. My wife and I were so amazed that the SteelMaster structure survived the fire. Thank you SteelMaster for building such a durable building!”

- George, Rock Hall, MD

While George unfortunately lost the contents of his building, his steel workshop remained standing with very little damage. Had he been in a traditional pole barn structure, he might not have been so lucky. The following stories all discuss how tragic a fire can be to a pole barn.

• Fire destroys pole barn on Farmingdale Road
• Afternoon Flames Fully Engulf West Olive Pole Barn
• Welding accident causes fire at Blackman Township pole barn