Fire destroys historic Wake County homestead
Long Branch Farm includes a Civil War battle site and was one of the oldest homesteads in the area. It had operated as an equestrian center in recent years.
Posted — Updated"It's a shame. It's a beautiful house that they had, and unfortunately, it's probably destroyed," Wake County Deputy Fire Marshal Charles Ottaway said.
Al Winsett, who was a caretaker on the farm for more than a dozen years, said the fire destroyed a piece of local history.
"They're good folks. We've loved them," Winsett said. "We just felt like family with them."
No horses were injured in the fire.
Authorities think the fire started in the center of the house at about 7:45 a.m. and quickly spread throughout the building, Ottaway said. Investigators planned to return to the farm Wednesday, after the area had cooled, to begins sifting through the rubble to determine the cause of the fire, he said.
Crews were still putting water on the house after noon.
Video from Sky 5 showed flames shooting through the roof of the two-story home, sending black smoke into the morning sky. Fire crews braved temperatures in the teens and were hampered by a lack of water lines. Numerous tankers were called to the scene to supply water.
Wake County real estate data lists the property owner as Laura S. Francis.
The family that owns the home declined to talk Tuesday, so it was unclear whether they plan to rebuild.
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