(From The Warren Sentinel dates Thursday 18 June 2009.)

WARREN SENTINEL PHOTO/MEGHAN MOESLEIN Without the stabilization investigators would be unable to complete their search for the cause of the blaze that nearly demolished the entire building.

WARREN COUNTY - In recent weeks one of Warren County's most historic buildings burned in a fire that left little more than two stone walls standing. With the flames having long been doused investigators are still unable to investigate the premises properly due to the weak structure that was left behind after the blaze.

The property - believed to have been built in the 1700s - was comprised of two components, a wooden structure and a stone structure, neither of which is known to be older than the other. The property is jointly owned by the Town of Front Royal and Warren County.

"Most of the work has been done at this point in time. It was basically just to stabilize the structure, [or] what's remaining at this point in time, so the fire investigators can get in and continue their fire investigation," said David Beahm, building official for Warren County. Beahm said they want to "basically get it to a point during the investigation that allows any of the material that could be reused [to be put] off to one side so when they do decide to restore it they have the original material."

To stabilize what was left of the stone and wood structure crews enveloped the standing stone with steel I-bars and metal framework in order to create a sort of cage that would hold portions in place.

"Originally, right after the fire, the main chimney in the center of the structure was still mostly standing [but] there was a lot of deterioration because of the fire," Beahm said.

Early after the fire, while crews were still assessing the damage, the creaks and moans of stones under pressure could be heard oozing from what was left of the center chimney.

"This portion to the west side was a wood structure and the fire obviously consumed more of the wood. That center chimney originally we tried to save, but because of the weather and the elements it eventually came down," said Beahm. "They did a little bit more to stabilize it so that when people are in there they are not in a dangerous situation."

The center chimney, along with some of the walls, started to crumble from the constant abuse of the elements and the structurally damaged parts slipping loose from one another. Crews had to knock a few feet off of each in order to maintain safety for investigators.

As of now, the structure is safe enough for crews to begin their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blaze. Currently there are several theories that Beahm has discussed with investigators including the possibility of the fire being started by Mother Nature herself.

At least five different instances of lightning strikes were recorded in the area surrounding the McKay House on the night of the fire. Beahm said it is possible one of those strikes may have struck the historic landmark.