Large fire consumes boats, buildings, vehicles at boatyard
Several boats, buildings and vessels were destroyed by a large fire at a Massachusetts boatyard
Emergency crews from multiple communities have responded to a large fire at a Mattapoisett boat yard.
The fire broke out just after 1:30 p.m. Friday.
12 News obtained videos that show flames and a pillar of smoke.
A fire was burning in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, Friday afternoon.
The blaze sent smoke high into the air over the coastal town. NBC affiliate WJAR reported that the fire was at a boat yard, where buildings, boats and cars were aflame.
The local fire department didn’t immediately provide any information on what happened.
Videos posted to social media showed a thick plume of smoke.
Massive fire broke out in #Mattapoisett at the at the Mattapoisett Boat Yard on Ned's Point Road. Thick black smoke, blotting out the sun and more than a dozen emergency vehicles. Hope everyone got out of there safely. pic.twitter.com/oSVptVh90v
— Austin Dobson (@AustinDobs) August 19, 2022
“A boat caught fire in one of the sheds, and it went up very, very fast,” Tim Price, a mechanic at the boatyard, told WJAR. “Everything went up. I think we lost everything.”
Radar's aren't just for tracking rain. 🔥A massive fire broke out earlier today at a Mattapoisett boatyard. Flames were so high, they were picked up by the radar beam. @NBC10Boston @NECN https://t.co/HW7EsXAdTB pic.twitter.com/yf38qnLg7x
— Tevin Wooten (@TevinWooten) August 19, 2022
Aerial video taken by WCVB-TV showed several boats and vehicles at the boatyard in Mattapoisett either burned out shells or being consumed by flames. Firefighters from around the region, including from as far away as Providence, Rhode Island about 30 miles away, responded to the blaze.
People who picked up the phones at the Mattapoisett fire and police departments said no one was available to comment. It was unclear if anyone was hurt.
The area of the fire was part of a Weather Service warning Friday of elevated fire risk due to drought and high winds. It sent a plume of dense black smoke over southeastern Massachusetts that could be seen for miles.
The National Weather Service said on Twitter that its radar had detected “what is most likely a smoke plume” in Mattapoisett.
Several other people posted images and video of the fire and smoke on social media.
The Mattapoisett Boatyard’s website says it’s been a family-owned marina since 1962, catering primarily to recreational boaters, and has the capacity to store up to 150 vessels during the summer that aren’t in use or are for sale.
