It was just before 11:30 PM on August 18 when an alarm blared, signaling trouble at the Harborside Inn on Block Island, Rhode Island. Fire Chief Chris Hobe, who happened to be awake 2.5 miles away, received the dispatch at 11:23 PM. The report mentioned smoke visible on Water Street. Within four minutes, Chief Hobe arrived at the scene. Thick smoke was billowing from the exhaust fan on the first floor, soon pushing out from the eaves. By 11:52 PM, he urgently called for a second alarm, marking the first time mutual aid was activated on the island.
The potential danger loomed large. If the fire spread to the other Victorian-style wooden buildings lining Water Street, it could devastate Block Island's historic downtown—a scenario Chief Hobe had anticipated while collaborating with mainland fire chiefs and local stakeholders to develop the island's first mutual aid plan during the past winter.
The Harborside Inn, originally named the Pequot House and later the Royal Hotel, might date back to 1879. These ornate 19th-century hotels and restaurants along Water Street are both charming and combustible. Built using balloon framing, a common construction method in the 1800s, the building lacked fire breaks between floors, allowing fires to travel swiftly from the basement to the attic. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had already reached the attic, beyond the reach of any sprinklers.
Firefighters immediately focused on preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings, some mere feet away and already warm to the touch. Water supply was another critical concern. Unlike mainland towns with seemingly endless hydrant access, Block Island had only 300,000 gallons of water storage. Getting reinforcements from 13 miles offshore would take time.
The Block Island Volunteer Fire Department had around 20 active members. Initially, 12 responded to the Harborside fire, growing to over 30 by the end. Junior members, aged 14 and above, joined in. Two members operated an infrared drone to detect hotspots. When visibility dropped due to thick smoke, they relied on radio communication to guide the battalion chiefs.
Word of the fire spread quickly. Vacationing firefighters from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York arrived to assist. Onlookers helped drag hoses to Old Harbor, preparing to draw seawater if necessary. Others moved propane tanks feeding nearby hotels and restaurants.
Chris Myers, the Block Island Ferry’s port captain, received a call at 12:23 AM. He was informed that a hotel was burning and requested immediate action. Mutual aid was activated at 11:52 PM, prompting a call to New England Airlines. Soon, two planeloads of firefighters made the 12-minute flight to the island.
Firefighters from Point Judith were transported by U.S. Coast Guard vessels. Marine Task Force fireboats prepared to head from Newport, Narragansett, and North Kingstown. Ladder trucks required by the scene would need to arrive by ferry, adding delays.
By 1:30 AM, fire trucks and personnel were en route to Block Island. Two ladder trucks from North Kingstown and South Kingstown were the first to arrive at 2:30 AM. Over the night, more ferries brought additional resources, including ladder trucks, engines, and firefighters. By dawn, three ferries delivered crucial reinforcements, and Coast Guard cutters brought about 60 firefighters from 15 departments.
The 75 guests evacuated from the Harborside found temporary shelter at the National Hotel or the Block Island School. Taxi drivers offered free rides to those displaced.
Throughout the night, the water company superintendent monitored the water supply closely. Depleting the tanks could lead to a boil water advisory, affecting businesses during peak season. At 3 AM, he decided to switch to seawater, despite its corrosive effects, to avoid a secondary crisis.
Chief Hobe estimated that firefighters used approximately 3 million gallons of water. It took two days for the system to recover, but they never ran out of water.
By noon on Saturday, the fire was mostly under control. Some mainland firefighters departed on the 10 AM ferry. The Harborside was a total loss, but no injuries occurred, and surrounding buildings were spared.
During the winter, a coalition of departments met virtually to formalize a mutual aid plan, considering various scenarios. In June, fireboats conducted trials and firefighters practiced packing ladder trucks on ferries. A tabletop exercise was planned for September.
A new ladder truck is expected in January, and Chief Hobe aims to raise $10 million to construct a station with seven bays and improve water infrastructure in Old Harbor.
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