National Society for the
Preservation of Covered Bridges

Arson Reduction Incentive

Updated on March 22, 2024

Salisbury, Vermont Our covered bridges are lost in a variety of ways, sometimes by natural forces, sometimes by our own choices of demolition, neglect or arson. For a list of all covered bridges known to have been lost to fire, intentional or accidental, click here.

Over the years, the Society has been very outspoken about the importance of preserving the historic components of bridges during repair and restoration projects. In addition to that, we are also gathering, evaluating and dispersing information regarding methods of protecting our remaining historic bridges from fire, vandalism and oversize vehicles.

Over the past five decades, at least 148 covered bridges have been lost to arson in the United States and Canada, an average of about three per year. In an effort to reduce this average, the Society is offering an incentive to encourage bridge owner's to apply fire retardants to their historic covered bridges. Specifically, offering to purchase a fire retardant acceptable to the Society for historic covered bridges. The actual amount offered will be determined on a case by case basis depending on the total cost of materials, size of the bridge and amount available in the fund.

Note that the fire retardant is applied to the truss members and needs to soak into the wood. Therefore, it cannot be applied to painted surfaces. This offer is only for the purchase and delivery of materials, it is the bridge owner's responsibility to arrange for proper application of the product. To submit a request for consideration, please email us at nspcb@yahoo.com.

You can help by donating towards this effort.

Recently supported projects include:

	January 2015	NSPCB donated fire retardant for the Snyder Brook Bridge (NH/29-04-P02) in Randolph, New Hampshire, the last remaining historic covered "pony" truss railroad bridge.
	January 2015	NSPCB donated fire retardant for the Hyde Hall Bridge (NY/32-39-01) in Glimmerglass State Park, New York, the nation’s oldest covered bridge built in 1825.
	October 2016	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Goddard Bridge (KY/17-35-06) in Fleming County, Kentucky.
	March 2017	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for covered bridges in Columbiana County, Ohio.
	March 2018	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Trout Brook Bridge constructed for the WW&F Railway Museum in Alna, Maine.
	April 2019	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Poole Forge Bridge (PA/38-36-01) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
	October 2019	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Red Bridge (PA/38-50-06) in Perry County, Pennsylvania
	June 2020	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Spencerville Bridge (IN/14-17-01) in DeKalb County, Indiana
	April 2021	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Kintersburg Bridge (PA/38-32-05) in Indiana County, Pennsylvania
	April 2021	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Bridgeport Bridge (CA/05-29-01) in Nevada County, California
	April 2021	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Squam River Bridge (NH/29-05-112) in Ashland, Grafton County, New Hampshire
	June 2021	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Cemetery Road Bridge (OH/35-29-01) in Greene County, Ohio
	March 2022	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Randall Bridge (VT/45-03-07) in Lyndonville, Caledonia County, Vermont
	March 2023	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Corbin Bridge (NH/29-10-??) in Newport, Sullivan County, New Hampshire
	July 2023	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for the Sach's Bridge (PA/38-01-01) in Adams County, Pennsylvania
	February 2024	NSPCB donated funds to purchase fire retardant for Wertz's Bridge (PA/38-06-06) in Berks County, Pennsylvania