PORTLAND (WGME) — The devastating fire that tore through Portland’s working waterfront Friday night, just a day after Christmas, is now affecting local fishermen.
The community is now coming toreceiveher to raise money for the businesses and fishermen affected.
The fire damaged not only a handful of tiny businesses, but also a warehoutilize for lobstermen and a maintenance shop they relied on.
In addition to the warehoutilize and shop, some fishermen also lost lobster traps and gear.
While one fisherman lost 40 years’ worth of tools he’d collected for his workshop.
“Right now we are still assessing what was lost down there. The fish houtilizes that were lost held a lot of tools, they held a lot of equipment, they were places that fishermen utilized to do gearwork,” executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association Ben Martens stated.
The fire also cautilized one nearby boat to sink and damaged others.
The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association quickly jumped in to assist by setting up a relief fund.
Since Saturday, they’ve already raised about $20,000.
“We will be working with the fishing and fishing businesses that were impacted to figure out how to best distribute those fund to those who were impacted,” executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association Ben Martens stated.
Some who witnessed the flames credit the fire department for their quick response in containing the fire.
A post-Christmas fire at Custom Houtilize Wharf in Portland destroyed or damaged a handful of tiny businesses. (WGME)
“It was quite a fire, but they seemed like they had it under control. I wasn’t worried at all based on how the fire department was acting that it was going to create it all the way down the block or become something out of control,” Forrest Andrea, who witnessed fire, stated.
Those interested in contributing to the fundraiser can find more information on the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association’s website.
A link to the fundraiser can be found here.
As for the cautilize of the fire, it remains under investigation, but firefighters declare due to the extensive damage, it’s unlikely they will be able to find a cautilize.
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