Photos/Story by BILLY GARRETT

On August 2, 2002 Gloucester Volunteer Fire Department received a call for a structure fire in the Naxera area of the county.

First arriving personnel and units found heavy fire and smoke coming from the second and third floors to the front of the structure.

The structure is an historic plantation house built in 1892 on the Severn River, currently undergoing rennovation.

Firefighters were hampered by high heat temperatures in the mid 90's and a lack of a constant water supply.

The construction of the house acted like a chimney, drawing the fire up into the crevices said, Gloucesters' Assistant Fire Chief J.D. Clements.

Due to the circumstances, mutual aid was called in to assist with the fire.

Six other surrounding counties responded to assist, which were, Mathews County, York County, Middlesex County, Lower King and Queen County, Deltaville, Urbanna Counties.

The farthest department to respond came from over 20 miles away.

The time of the fire was at 1:50pm with the fire being brought under control about 2 1/2 hours later.

The lack of a water supply was hampered because the house was a good ways off of the road.

The nearby Severn River which is in the front yard of the house was at low tide and could not draft from the river, the closet hydrant was 4 1/2 miles away.

One firefighter from York County was injured slightly when a piece of glass fell and hit his glove causing him to require stitches.

The fire is believed to have started on the second floor porch when construction workers where placing copper flashing in.

The owner of the house praised the firefighters for their efforts and for saving much of his prized valuables and antiques.

Some of the items that where saved where a liquor chest from Thomas Nelson and a sofa belonging to Thomas Jefferson. And other items from the colonial era when his family lived in the house.

The owner Phillip Hamilton, 74 lived in the house alone.

Firefighters where able to gather much of his antiques and other items and remove them from the structure or relocated them on the first floor and covered them with salvage covers while others where battling the blaze.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.