Our covered bridges are lost in a variety of ways, sometimes by natural forces, sometimes by our own choices of demolition, neglect or arson. 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, we gather, evaluate and disperse 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, to offer a partial reimbursement for application of a fire retardant to an historic covered bridge during the 2017 calendar year. The actual amount reimbursed will be determined on a case by case basis. A typical reimbursement would be $500 or cost of materials, whichever is lesser.
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