The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, in coordination with the Portland Fire Department, is investigating a three-alarm fire that occurred Friday evening, Dec. 26, at 25 and 27 Custom House Wharf in Portland.
The fire caused significant damage to several portions of the attached buildings, including storage and maintenance spaces used by multiple fishermen, lobstermen’s trap-repair shops and businesses such as Nanuq Kayak and Maritime Antiques, according to a news release.
The Sea Bags Factory Store was also affected, but the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined. Harbor Fish Market did not sustain any fire damage; the store was just affected by the fire investigation and has reopened.
Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Portland Fire Department returned to the scene on Saturday to conduct witness and occupant interviews and collect video evidence. Officials determined there is no indication of foul play.
Due to the extent of the fire damage, it is unlikely that an exact cause will be identified, the release said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
On Monday morning, amid a steady rain, the outer part of the wharf was closed to traffic, but Harbor Fish Market was open for business and a beer truck was making deliveries to area restaurants. Nanuq Kayak, with extensive damage and a collapsed roof, had moved to that location within the past two years.
Fishing hub
Custom House Wharf, located along the waterfront across from the historic Custom House Building, has long been a hub for Portland’s fishing industry.
“The weathered rows of ramshackle buildings that line the wharf were constructed in the 1930s and have since hosted a variety of businesses, including fish processors, ferry terminals, shops and restaurants,” according to Portland Old Port.
The wharf was under the ownership of a single family for nearly two centuries before changing hands in January 2022. Today it remains an active working waterfront. “Fishermen and lobstermen continue to dock their boats, repair traps and mend nets there, while thousands of tourists stroll the planks and snap photos each year,” said Portland Old Port.
Harbor Fish Market was established on the wharf in 1966.
Defensive operations
According to the Portland Fire Department, led by Chad Johnston, the department was alerted to the report of a significant, visible fire on the wharf at 5:33 p.m. on Friday. The initial report of fire came in from a Casco Bay Ferry. Significant smoke and fire were visible from multiple buildings. One building involved at arrival was a one-story, commercial structure. A second building was a two-story commercial structure.
Due to intense fire conditions, challenges with multiple additional exposures, access issues related to being on a wharf and the structural collapse of the building, crews were forced to eventually operate defensively.
Operations included all Portland fire crews as well as the fireboat, and mutual aid was received on scene by Westbrook and South Portland fire departments. Mutual aid from Scarborough, South Portland, Falmouth, Cumberland, Westbrook and Cape Elizabeth assisted with city coverage.
The fire was considered under control around 7:22 p.m.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries that did not require transport; there were no reports of injuries to members of the public.
Multiple boats tied to the wharf sustained damage from the fire and firefighting operations, one of the boats sank.
Investigators are expected to be on scene for an extended period of time.
‘Toughest conditions’
“These are some of the coldest, toughest conditions to work in, but our firefighters showed up once again with professionalism, and pride in serving this city,” Portland Professional Firefighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 740 said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association set up an online fundraiser in response to a request by fishermen and working with the Maine Lobster Community Alliance and the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.
“Fishermen and fishing businesses suffered extensive losses,” the association said in a post. “We are in communication with local fishermen to understand the extent of the damage, and identify how best to support impacted fishing businesses in the days, weeks and months ahead.”
Mainebiz Editor Peter Van Allen contributed to this report.