‘No indication of foul play’ in Portland waterfront fire
Officials in Maine said they are still investigating a fire that erupted in Portland’s historic waterfront Friday night, but they’ve found “no indication of foul play.”
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office and Portland Fire Department are looking into caused the blaze at Custom House Wharf, although they said they may never figure out what happened.
“Due to the extent of the fire damage, it is unlikely that an exact cause will be identified,” a statement from the fire marshal’s said.
The three-alarm fire severely damaged several fishing and retail operations, including fisherman’s storage and maintenance spaces, lobster trap repairs shops, a kayak business, and an antique store.
Firefighters initially responded to the fire around 5:30 p.m. the day after Christmas and arrived on the scene to see lots of smoke and multiple buildings on fire.
It took two hours, all of Portland’s crews, their fireboat, and aid from two other departments to get the fire under control.
Two firefighters were hurt Friday night, according to the department, but did not need to be transported to a hospital. No civilian injuries were reported.
To help those who have been impacted by the fire, the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, a non-profit group that advocates for the fishing community, has started a fundraiser.
By Sunday, it had already raised more than $12,000, according to the association’s executive director Ben Martens.
“It’s never easy being a fisherman,” Martens told The Herald, especially during the winter when the fishing is more dangerous and business is slower. But the fire and the damage it caused added “an additional layer of stress and anxiety.”
Some boats were so badly damaged that they sunk, Martens said. Insurance will hopefully cover the wrecked boats and property damage, but in the meantime, the donations might helped to curbed some of the destruction.
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Although the situation caused by the fire is difficult, Martens said that it was heartening to see how the community, first responders, and fishermen all came out to support each other. As the fire tore through the wharf, people help each other haul boats to safety. With subfreezing temperatures in Maine since the fire, those impacted and those who want to help are now sifting through what they can salvage.
He explained that the fundraiser was created because so many in the community were asking how they could help. “In the worst of times, you see the best of people,” Martens said.
