Monday’s fire at the historic Horn Farm Center in York County destroyed a barn being used as the main office building, the center said Tuesday.
In a post to the center’s Facebook page, Center Executive Director Alexis Campbell shared how the fire “devasted” staff and tested their resilience.
“We are incredibly thankful for the outpouring of support, prayers, and well wishes from our community,” Campbell said.
Center staff is working on “taking stock” and determining the next steps after the fire destroyed the second and third floor of the historic farmhouse building. The building was the office building, and no one was on site when the fire broke out, Campbell wrote.
Due to the fire being on the upper floors, Campbell said they were able to salvage its most important files, paperwork, archives, framed photos, maps office equipment, computers and other items from the first floor.
The York County 911 online dispatch log showed crews were called to the farm center just before 9 p.m.
The York Daily Record reports that officials suspect bad weather in the area Monday night led to a lightning strike hitting the barn. Hellam Fire Chief Eric Strittmatter told the paper that it took 40 minutes to get the fire under control but crews were on-site for three hours.
“We are also endlessly grateful to the dozens of local fire companies, who worked through the night to get fire under control,” Campbell said. “A special thanks to Hellam Fire Company, who led the efforts.”
Campbell said the center has a long road ahead of it, but that she is optimistic.
“In my short time leading the farm, I have seen so many of you offer your passion, talent, and sweat, blood, and tears to this organization, because you all truly believe in the work we do,” Campbell said.
The farm center was established in 2004, with York County leasing the property to the nonprofit corporation that uses the property for agricultural education, according to the website.
“We are committed to restoring ecological health to both the fields and semi-wild spaces on the farm while providing nutritious food to our community,” the Horn Center states on the website.
Anyone wishing to support the farm center can donate through its website, hornfarmcenter.org/donate or patreon, patreon.com/hornfarm.
Farm staff will share more volunteer and supply needs as they figure out center needs.
Campbell did ask that anyone driving past the farm not approach the farmhouse building, “in the interest of public safety.”
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