Repairs ahead for fire-damaged building at Edgecomb resort

Building’s owner praises firefighters
Fri, 11/07/2014 - 12:30pm

    The property manager for the homeowners association that uses an Edgecomb pool house hopes to get repairs under way as soon as possible for the building damaged in a Nov. 3 fire. Jeff Martin said he would like the building to re-open by next spring or summer, in time for tourist season.

    He planned to meet with an insurance adjuster on Friday, Nov. 7 at the pool house. Martin said it would be his first look at the damage.

    Neither he nor the building’s owner, Tony Casella, had a dollar estimate on what the repairs will take. But Casella said the damage would have been a lot more extensive and expensive if not for firefighters’ outstanding effort. Firefighters from Wiscasset, Boothbay and Newcastle aided Edgecomb at the scene.

    Firefighters in a major city couldn’t have done any better, Casella said on Nov. 6, days after state and local fire officials determined a malfunction in a pool heater probably sparked the blaze. The fire heavily damaged the upper-floor utility room where it started, Edgecomb Fire Chief Roy Potter has said. Water involved in putting out the fire damaged the building’s first floor.

    The pool house is located in an area known as the “The View” at Sheepscot Harbour Village & Resort on Davis Island. Casella said he did not consider converting the building for some other use following the fire. Homeowners use it regularly, including the exercise room it houses, he said.

    The homeowners association for “The View” insures the building, Casella said. Reached Friday, a representative of the homeowners association deferred comment to Martin.