Suspicious fire at popular corn maze on farmland in Sterling

A suspicious fire broke out at Davis Farmland in Sterling early Tuesday morning.Davis Farmland

A popular corn maze at Davis Farmland in Sterling was damaged by a suspicious fire early Tuesday morning, officials said.

The fire was reported through a 911 call shortly before 4 a.m., according to Jake Wark, a spokesman with the state fire marshal’s office.

“It’s currently being investigated as a suspicious fire,” Wark said in an e-mail.

Larry Davis, co-owner of Davis Farmland, said the fire destroyed an attraction known as the twin turbo slides.

“It’s a fan favorite,” Davis said in a phone interview. “The whole thing is going to have to be dismantled.”

The attraction was built in 2019 and he estimates it will cost “in excess of $50,000″ to replace. Davis said he didn’t know why anyone would intentionally set a fire there.

“It makes no sense,” he said.

The Discovery Farm at Davis Farmland was not affected by the fire and is open to the public as usual, he said.

“The damage took place across the street, at the Mega Maze,” Davis said.

The origin and cause of the blaze are under investigation by the Sterling Fire Department, Sterling Police Department, and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the state fire marshal’s office, Wark said.

There were no injuries, according to a statement posted by the Davis family on Davis Farmland’s Facebook page.

“Davis Farmland’s Mega Maze was vandalized by fire in the early morning hours this past Tuesday,” the statement said. “We are extremely thankful for the quick response from neighbors, The Sterling Fire Department, The Sterling Police Department, The Fire and Explosions Investigation Unit, and dogs from the Massachusetts State Police for containing and controlling this fire. We were very fortunate that there were no casualties - human or animal.”

“We are now putting our focus on rebuilding what was burned down and preparing for Davis Farmland’s Mega Maze to open in Mid-September. Thank you to everyone that has expressed their thoughts and condolences. We so greatly appreciate your support.”

24corn - A suspicious fire broke out at Davis Farmland in Sterling early Tuesday morning. (Davis Farmland)Davis Farmland

24corn - A suspicious fire broke out at Davis Farmland in Sterling early Tuesday morning. (Davis Farmland)Davis Farmland