MARCH 9, 2015
SERGEANTSVILLE, NEW JERSEY
A more than 300-year-old inn that played host to the
nation's first president has been left in ruin after a large four-alarm fire
ripped through the historic New Jersey structure.
Fire began burning inside The Sergeantsville Inn at 601
Rosemont Ringoes Road in Sergeantsville, New Jersey, around 2 a.m. Monday, town
leaders told NBC10. Sergeantsville is about 24 miles north of Trenton in
Hunterdon County.
The inn, which now operates as a restaurant, dates back to
the early 1700s and hosted President George Washington.
"This is the center of our town," Delaware
Township Mayor Roger Locandro said. "This is the place where senators and
assemblypeople come. This is a place where people celebrate their birthdays or
anniversaries — their life events."
When fire crews were first notified, there was just smoke
coming from the two-story stone building, officials said. But the fire quickly
grew and eventually flames began to shoot from the roof.
Firefighters struck four-alarms as they called in help from
surrounding towns to battle the blaze. Crews were pulling water from fire
hydrants a few miles away and trucking it in.
One firefighter suffered a minor knee injury, but no other
injuries were reported. It was unclear what sparked the blaze.
The Sergeantsville Inn began as a private home before being
converted into a grain and feed store in the 1830s, according to its website.
The restaurant opened in the early 1900s and has also been home to a grocery
store, ice cream parlor and pelt trading center.
This is a classic case of pyrolysis of the wood frame around
the deteriorated fireplace/chimney to blame.
The fireplace was deteriorated, allowing the hot gases to escape and
pyrolyze the structure. This led to the
fire.