posted 07-14-2000 09:21 PM            

"- CAPE CHARLES LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS QUARTERS LOST TO FIRE.
Chapter Member Phil Payette emailed to inform us that "Yesterday (7/13) the Cape Charles Lighthouse Keepers Quarters burned down. As several acres burned, and as you can imagine firefighters had a difficult time getting to the island, so the house could not be saved. Fortunately there is no damage to the lighthouse. The cause of fire has not yet been determined."

Dave

posted 07-24-2000 05:04 PM            

"- Further update on the Smith Island fire sent by Chapter member George
Thomas of Williamsburg

Firefighters Save Historic Va. Lighthouse
HEATHER CASEY
Firehouse.
Com News

A force of 35 mainland firefighters waded ashore on Smith Island, VA,
Thursday to quell a 20-30 acre brush fire that threatened the historic
Cape Charles Lighthouse. The lighthouse, an iron structure, was not damaged in the blaze but the keeper's house was completely destroyed, said Bill Powell, assistant chief of the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company. The house had already burned down when fire crews got there, Powell said.

It was unclear whether anyone was using the house, but there was a
contractor on the island painting the lighthouse, Powell said. This piece of Smith Island is a game and refuge area with only a few structures, said a spokeswoman from the Cape Charles town office. This lighthouse site dates back to 1828. The current cast iron tower was completed on August 15, 1895.

The cause of the fire and whether it originated at the house or in the surrounding brush is currently under investigation, Powell said. A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard, which has a station in Cape Charles not far from Smith Island, said they received a call from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Authority reporting the fire on the island. The station dispatched a 21-foot, rigid hull, inflatable boat to the Wise Point Boat Ramp to transport firefighters to the island. The trip was about six miles through shallow water.

Even for the inflatable boats, getting to shore was impossible because the tide was low. Firefighters had to wade up to 1000 yards, Powell said. The Eastern Shore, Virginia 911 Center got the Coast Guard's call at 11:40 a.m. and immediately dispatched firefighters, said Jamie Collins, the center's supervisor. The Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company and the Cheriton fire department got the first call, and they quickly requested extra help so the Eastville, Nassawadox and Virginia Beach fire departments responded. The game fishery, Coast Guard and National Guard were also involved, Powell said. Boats from the Coast Guard, local agencies and private boats were all involved in carrying firefighters and equipment to the island, said firefighter Frank Ulrich of the Cheriton, VA fire department.

The first crews arrived on the island at about 12:30 p.m. While one crew worked to open a 4000 gallon freshwater holding tank and get a pump into it, which took about an hour, another crew worked to create a fireline, Powell said. Firefighters brought over small water tanks they carried on their backs, a few portable pumps to bring in salt water and fire rakes. An ATV was also brought over to help transport equipment around the island, Ulrich said.

Ulrich said smoke was visible from 3-4 miles away. The Cape Charles Rescue Squad was also on the scene to provide medical attention and assistance. There were no injuries, Powell said. The fire was brought under control around 5:30, Powell said. By the time they packed up and got back to their station it was about 8:00."