Firefighters work to douse a structure fire with water at the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn, a seasonal hotel in Boothbay Harbor, on Monday, May 23. Crews from at least eight different fire departments in Lincoln County responded mutual aid to the blaze that destroyed the large hotel. (Evan Houk photo)
A fire destroyed the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn, a seasonal hotel in Boothbay Harbor, on Monday, May 23.
No one was in the hotel when it caught fire, according to Boothbay Harbor Fire Chief Nick Upham. No firefighters were injured, Upham said on Wednesday, May 25.
The large waterfront hotel at 48 Lakeview Road was fully involved on the second floor when firefighters arrived on scene, Upham said.
Firefighters mount a ground attack of water at the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn, a seasonal hotel in Boothbay Harbor, on Monday, May 23. (Evan Houk photo)
“It was a fully involved structure fire on the second floor coming out of the room doors and out through the roof,” Upham said.
He said the fire was visible “all the way across the building,” which he estimated to be about 150 feet long.
The building was a large structure with an ell section that could not be seen through the smoke, Upham said.
The Maine Office of the State Fire Marshal came the next day to investigate the cause.
Firefighters battle a blaze at the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn in Boothbay Harbor on Monday, May 23. (Courtesy photo)
Upham said the exact cause of the fire cannot determined because there is nothing left of the building, but the marshal indicated it appeared to have started in the area of the electric hot water heater in the building.
Central Maine Power Company cut power to the area at the request of the fire department, impacting about 2,000 customers, from approximately 8:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., according to CMP spokesperson Catharine Hartnett.
Power was restored to all but 136 customers by about 9:45 p.m.
Firefighters carry a hose line to douse a fire at the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn, a seasonal hotel in Boothbay Harbor, on Monday, May 23. The hotel was leveled by the blaze, so the cause will be difficult to determine, said Boothbay Harbor Fire Chief Nick Upham. (Evan Houk photo)
“We had significant system damage near the hotel from the fire and the remaining customers were restored once repairs were made at about 12:15 p.m. (Tuesday, May 24),” she wrote by email.
Firefighters were mounting multiple attacks to douse the fire after the building’s structure collapsed around 9 p.m.
A ladder truck was used to pour water from above.
As wind gusts picked up around 10 p.m., smoke filled the neighborhood around the hotel.
Firefighters spray water onto remains of the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn. The inn was destroyed by a blaze on Monday, May 23. (Courtesy photo)
Upham said the wind didn’t cause any problems for the firefighters. The fire was out by about 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24. One truck remained on the scene until after noon to monitor hotspots and assist the fire marshal.
The Lincoln County Communications Center began calling for mutual aid at 8:33 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 reports of the hotel being on fire.
In addition to the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department, Boothbay, Bristol, Edgecomb, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Southport, and Wiscasset fire departments all responded to the fire.
Firefighters carry a hose line to douse a fire at the Beach Cove Waterfront Inn, a seasonal hotel in Boothbay Harbor, on Monday, May 23. The hotel was leveled by the blaze, so the cause will be difficult to determine, said Boothbay Harbor Fire Chief Nick Upham. (Evan Houk photo)
The Beach Cove Waterfront Inn is owned by Andrei Elizarkov, who was preparing to open next week, according to Shannon Moss, public information officer for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
A representative for the hotel declined to comment when reached by phone on Wednesday, May 25.
