‘We’re going to do all we can to bring it back’: Investigators, business owners, property managers assess damage after devastating Portland fire

Flames and smoke were visible around the Casco Bay Friday night, leaving smokey remains on one of Portland’s iconic wharfs.

PORTLAND, Maine — A fire on Portland’s working waterfront Friday night sent smoke across Casco Bay and flames into the night sky, leaving fishermen and business owners grappling with major losses.

“I could see the smoke from Falmouth coming across Martin’s Point Bridge,” Steve Goodrich, part owner of the Custom House Wharf, said.

Fire crews were called to the wharf shortly after 5:30 p.m. Flames came from a building near the end of the wharf, prompting a response from Portland, Westbrook, South Portland, and more fire departments.

RELATED: Large fire at Custom House Wharf in Portland results in total loss of building

Lifelong fisherman Steve Train said the Portland Fire Department’s patrol boat was critical in preventing the fire’s spread.

“This is the Portland working waterfront,” Train saids. “That boat is pivotal to keeping things safe when something like that happens.”

Goodrich told NEWS CENTER Maine that fishermen had been renting space inside the building to store equipment.

Train said the loss is devastating—both financially and emotionally.

“Those traps are junk right now,” he said. “The vinyl is melted. They’re all going to the junkyard.”

Many of those lobster traps cost about $200 each, and Train says generations of tools and gear were lost in just one night.

RELATED: Fire in Portland’s Old Port damages its historic waterfront and sinks at least one boat

At least three buildings were damaged, with the storage site taking the brunt of the fire. The next-door Maritime Antiques store and Sea Bags Factory Store still sustained water and smoke damage. Portland Deputy Fire Chief John Hendricks said crews acting quickly were able to stop further damage and control the fire in two hours.

“We made our stop right here at Sea Bags and kept the fire to this end of the building,” Hendricks said.

While much of the wharf was spared, the fire did burn through Nanuq Kayak. Owner Harley Lewin said it was just two years ago he opened shop on Custom House Wharf.

“You put your guts in it,” Lewin said. “You put a lot of love in it.”

Despite the damage, Lewin and others on the wharf said they are committed to rebuilding.

“We’re going to do all we can to bring it back,” Lewin said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Two firefighters received minor injuries.

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