Massive fire destroys popular Connecticut marina

Multiple buildings and several boats at a marina have been destroyed, after a wind-driven fire broke out along the Mystic River in Connecticut.

Firefighters were called to Seaport Marine late on Sunday night (27 November 2022), after receiving reports of smoke. Using water from the river, firefighters tackled the blaze through the night, battling strong winds that fanned the flames.

On Monday, Mystic Fire Chief Anthony Manfredi told reporters that the fire had destroyed a home and a commercial building at the marina, and had caused some propane tanks to explode. He estimates up to five boats may have been damaged. One firefighter was evaluated for minor injuries, but no one was hurt in the fire.

“It was a wind-driven fire, so it spread pretty rapidly. We had crews on both sides of the marina extinguishing the fire,” Manfredi told reporters.

Roads were shut and nearby homes were evacuated, alongside a local hotel, as fire crews tackled the fire, which has now been put out.

“It’s an older building that’s been around as long as I’ve been here and that’s 26 years,” Bruce Flax, President of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce, told CBS station WFSB-TV of the damaged structure. “There’s a parking lot to the north side of the building, which I think saved a few other buildings because the wind was blowing quite hard and it looked like that parking lot left enough room for the flames not to get any other buildings.”

Residents told reporters that the marina was an important part of the local community.

“It’s sad it’s been a bit of an icon. It’s been here forever. So disappointing. Hopefully everybody was safe, nobody got hurt,” Steve Tavards, of Mystic, told NBC Connecticut.

Authorities are now establishing the cause of the fire, and investigations are ongoing. Manfredi has asked anyone with footage of the fire to provide it to the Stonington Police Department.