Fri, 09/29/2023 - 1:45pm

Sarah Thompson

Many fire departments responded to a three-structure fire in Port Clyde, Wednesday night into Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

People were able to roll propane tanks out of the general store. Those tanks were later carried further away courtesy of a forklift. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Many fire departments responded to a three-structure fire in Port Clyde, Wednesday night into Thursday. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

People were able to roll propane tanks out of the general store. Those tanks were later carried further away courtesy of a forklift. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Editor’s note: An update to this article can be found at https://admin.penbaypilot.com/article/scene-three-building-fire-port-clyde-stays-active-through-most-next-day/178969.

PORT CLYDE — Three buildings at the Port Clyde wharf caught fire Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2023. Well into the day Thursday, fire crews will continue to battle flames that have jumped among Factory Road structures occupied by Monhegan Boat Line, Dip Net restaurant, and Port Clyde General Store.

“This is just about the worst thing you can imagine,” said a neighbor, referencing Monhegan Boat Line founder Jim Barstow, who passed away in June of this year.

Wednesday evening, St. George Fire Department responded to a 10:38 p.m. dispatch. Upon arrival, the first firefighter encountered heavy smoke and visible flames. A first call to mutual aid departments brought Warren, Cushing, South Thomaston, Thomaston, and Owls Head. Around 11:15 p.m., Rockland FD was called, and shortly after 1 a.m., Rockport, Camden, and Friendship firefighters were requested since manpower energy was beginning to smolder. By 2 a.m., the St. George fire chief was reaching out to other Knox County fire departments for an additional tanker truck, getting a response from Hope FD.

Early on in the attempts to subdue the flames, the ground crew ran out of water once, which was initially being pumped from a Horse Point Road hydrant that is fixed in place above an underground pond. The continuous relay of tanker trucks also began using a pond near the St. George Fire Station on Route 131. Around that time, flames were so intense that crews were forced back from the Monhegan Boat Line building.

Initially, flames couldn’t be seen from the front side of the general store and the restaurant. However, when firefighters cut ventilation holes in the roof around 12:30 a.m., oxygenation fueled the interior sparks, and the holes allowed for exit opportunities.

By 3 a.m., the ground crew accepted an offer by Knox County EMA to bring a Porta Potty to the scene.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com