The fire that struck the Washburn & Doughty shipyard on March 12 is only the latest to have started in the ventilation system there, according to Boothbay Fire Chief Richard Spofford.
The Boothbay Fire Dept. has responded to a number of incidents at the location since it was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 2008 destroyed the facility, including small fires involving air filters and the ventilation system, Spofford said. The exact number of such fires was not immediately available.
Fire departments from four Lincoln County towns responded to Washburn & Doughty in East Boothbay at approximately 5:30 p.m. on March 12.
A fire that started in the ventilation system was controlled in about 45 minutes, according to Spofford. Damage from the flames was restricted to the area around the ventilation system, and was not considered major, according to Spofford. No injuries were reported.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, according to Spofford, who added that the fire has already been ruled accidental and not suspicious. Washburn & Doughty will conduct their own investigation into the incident, and the Fire Marshal’s Office is not involved at this time, Spofford said.
“It was a good thing somebody was still there because they were getting ready to leave for the day,” Spofford said. The employees used fire extinguishers to try to knock down the fire before first responders arrived, according to Spofford. Nonetheless, “It was a pretty hot fire by the time we got there,” Spofford said.
Fire departments from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb responded to the scene, along with deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
