Laura Peters

lpeters@newsleader.com

Firefighters are cleaning up after battling a fire at the 1700s-era Irish Farm at Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton.

White smoke could be seen billowing from holes in the thatched roof as firefighters worked to control the scene.

Calls came in around 12:45 pm for assistance in controlling the fire.

John Avoli, executive director of the museum, said the roof is made of sod and thatch with a wood frame. The sod on the roof actually worked to protect the roof’s framing from the fire. Most of what burned was the thatch. This roof was scheduled to be replaced in August.

Avoli said the building’s basic structure was undamaged. Since the building itself is made of stone, all that is expected to be replaced is the roof, he said.

The material needed to rebuild the roof is already grown on-site at the museum, Avoli said.

Nobody was hurt. Augusta County and Staunton firefighters responded to the scene.

Gerry Kester, who was working at the farm, was in the house when he heard about the fire from a neighbor. “I just got back from lunch. The fire (in the fireplace) was down to coals so I put some more wood on and was doing some work. The blacksmith runs in and says, ‘Your roof’s on fire!’ I thought he was joking.”

Kester thinks a spark from the chimney could have caused the fire. Furniture was quickly and safely removed from the building. “There’s only really two artifacts,” said Kester, including a loom.

This is not the first instance in recent history of fire threatening an exhibit at Frontier Culture. In November 2014, two wigwams burned to the ground.

Fire claims huts at Frontier Culture Museum

Staunton Fire Chief R. Scott Garber said the fire was under control by 2 p.m.

"It's just an extensive overhaul operation to get all the thatch off the roof to make sure the fire extinguished," Garber said. "The building should be salvageable. It looks like they could replace the roof structures and replace the thatching and their cottage will be back the way it was."