Fire Damages Portland Old Port Waterfront, Sinks Boat
A fire that began shortly after 5 p.m. damaged Portland’s historic Old Port waterfront, sank at least one boat and engulfed part of a New England wharf before firefighters brought it under control by about 7:22 p.m. Deputy Fire Chief Jon Hendricks said the blaze had a "pretty good head start" when crews arrived but an aggressive attack kept it from spreading further; two firefighters suffered minor injuries but were not transported to hospital. The Porthole Restaurant on Custom House Wharf survived and remains open, and Gov. Janet Mills said she was monitoring the situation and urged people to avoid the area.
📌 Key Facts
- The fire broke out shortly after 5:00 p.m. at Custom House Wharf on Portland's Old Port waterfront and was reported under control by about 7:22 p.m.
- Deputy Fire Chief Jon Hendricks said the fire appeared to have a "pretty good head start" when crews arrived but praised an aggressive attack that kept it from spreading down the rest of the wharf.
- The Porthole Restaurant and Pub on Custom House Wharf survived the blaze, remains open, and expressed thanks to first responders while inviting customers to gather.
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills said she was aware of and monitoring the waterfront fire and urged people to avoid the area and follow public-safety directions.
- Two firefighters suffered minor injuries but did not require transport to a hospital.
📊 Relevant Data
Electrical issues are the number one cause of fires in historic buildings.
FIRE PREVENTION IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS — Adirondack Architectural Heritage
Typical causes of fires in historical buildings include outdated electrical and heating systems, candles, and improper use of wood stoves and fireplaces.
When History Goes Up in Smoke – The Burning Issues Surrounding Historic Building Fires — Gen Re
In 2023, visitors directly spent $1,566,110,300 in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region, which includes the Old Port, representing a 14.4% increase from 2022.
2023 MAINE OFFICE OF TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS PORTLAND REGION — Maine Office of Tourism
📰 Sources (2)
- Deputy Fire Chief Jon Hendricks said the fire appeared to have a 'pretty good head start' when crews arrived but praised an aggressive attack that kept it from spreading down the rest of the wharf.
- The Porthole Restaurant and Pub on Custom House Wharf stated it survived the fire and remains open, inviting customers to gather and expressing thanks to first responders.
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills posted on X that she was aware of and monitoring the waterfront fire and urged people to avoid the area and follow public-safety directions.
- Fox article specifies the fire was under control by about 7:22 p.m. after starting shortly after 5 p.m.
- Two firefighters suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital transport.