Fire Causes "Moderate Damage" To Casey Farm House

Disaster was averted yesterday as a nearly overtook one of North Kingstown's well-known historic sites.

North Kingstown firefighters responded to Sunday around 5:45 p.m. after a passerby noticed flame creeping from the roof of the farmhouse. The farm's caretaker was inside at the time and was only made aware of the fire after the motorist alerted her of the problem.

According to North Kingstown Fire Chief Fenwick Gardiner Jr., the building only sustained moderate damage contained to a 10-foot by 10-foot area of the roof. The interior of the 260-year-old farmhouse saw some water damage while crews doused the flames.

For Gardiner, the speedy response of crews from station two on Boston Neck Road was "very instrumental" in preventing heavy damage to the historic site.

"Any longer and the situation could've been much worse," said Gardiner. "Given the age of that building, it wouldn't have taken much."

Replacing the roof won't be an incredible impediment to Casey Farm according to Susanna Crampton of Historic New England, which operates multiple historic sites including Jamestown's Watson Farm.

"Plans were in place for us to do roof work there in this fiscal year budget," said Crampton. "After the fire, we will be moving [the roof work] forward a bit quicker."

Staffers were on scene Monday assessing the damage. According to Crampton, Historic New England does not anticipate the damage caused by the fire will impact to summer programs.