CHIMACUM — Flames destroyed an historic barn and damaged several nearby vehicles at Glendale Farm, 431 Center Road near state Highway 19, on Saturday afternoon.
The cause of the blaze was unknown to authorities.
“It’s going to be under investigation for some time,” said Keppie Keplinger, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokeswoman.
Glendale Farm, 180 acres, is one of the largest parcels in Jefferson County still in active agricultural use and is protected by a land trust.
It is at the confluence of Beaver and Center Valleys, the two largest agriculturally zoned areas in the county. The land has been a farm since 1857, with a history of dairy and cheese production, and is currently an organic beef operation.
The farm’s owner is Linda Sexton, who, according to records, has had disagreements in the past with county officials over solid waste rules, including the number of vehicles and other items stored at the farm.
The barn “was totally engulfed almost immediately, completely involved, completely gone” when firefighters arrived after they were alerted to the blaze at 1:54 p.m., Keplinger said.
The blaze was declared under control about an hour later.
Firefighters reportedly had to bring in water tankers because there were no hydrants near the fire scene.
No one was reported to have been inside the barn.
No injuries were reported to firefighters or bystanders, whom firefighters kept away because of reports of propane tanks on the property and gasoline in the cars.
No tanks or vehicles exploded, and no other structures were damaged.
Firefighters from Port Ludlow, North Kitsap, Discovery Bay, Poulsbo, Quilcene, Brinnon and Indian Island responded to the fire.
