Fire

I posted not long ago about one of my favorite places, Menemsha Village (23 June). Today was a horrible day for Menemsha. A fire destroyed so much of it today. I actually took my niece and nephew there yesterday and they were diving for starfish by the boats. They had so much fun and wanted to go back there today but we did not go, fortunately.

Here is the latest from the local paper's (Martha's Vineyard Times) website:

"A mid-afternoon fire that broke out at 2:42 pm destroyed the Coast Guard boathouse in Menemsha, and its pier, and a truck and trailer for a 25-foot boat. The fire has been extinguished.
Firefighters are continuing to put water on the smoldering dock. There are no reports of injuries. Several firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.
The drive on dock was heavily damaged stranding a number of vehicles. The blaze ignited a number of nearby boats and burned through the mooring lines. One boat in flames floated across the harbor towards the gas dock. Other boats drifted against fishing boats on Dutcher Dock. Quick action by harbor personnel and volunteers who towed the boats out of the harbor helped to avert a larger disaster. There are reports that several boats sank in the harbor.
The State Fire Marshall arrived on the Island to begin an investigation.
At the height of the blaze, all Island fire departments were asked to provide mutual aid and all EMTs were called to respond to Menemsha. Lifeguards were asked to evacuate the crowded town beach.
Kim Heath of West Tisbury was at Menemsha Beach with her daughter and was preparing to leave when clouds of black smoke began rising from the vicinity of the Coast Guard dock. “You could hear popping sounds,” she said.
The beach was crowded with people. Many were at first curious but then began to leave Menemsha. She said most people remained calm. As if on cue babies began to cry she said. As she walked to her car parked in the Homeport Restaurant lot she said she could feel the heat from the intense flames.
Local restaurants provided food and water to emergency responders. Menemsha was closed off to all traffic.
"It was a frightening event," J.B. Riggs Parker, a former selectman and boat owner, said. "We are very fortunate that, as far as I know, no one was injured. Mr. Parker was purchasing fish when he the fire erupted. Asked to describe the aftermath, he said, "It's a disaster, a total disaster."