History burns in fire at OC farm, art gallery
The owner of Jones Farm in Cornwall is thankful that a barn that caught fire Tuesday was not completely destroyed, but is lamenting the loss of some historic photos and artwork that burned in the blaze.
Owner Jim Clearwater says that people rarely realize how violent fire can be until they've experienced it, something he did Tuesday morning after a fire broke out at the historic tourist site.
Cornwall Fire Chief Patrick Hines says that some 60 volunteer firefighters used 7,500 gallons of water to eventually save the 100-year-old barn, but that the works contained inside were not quite as lucky.
Investigators believe that an electric problem in a boiler room could be to blame. While the gallery will likely have to be rebuilt, Clearwater says that the farm will remain open.