Mass. Officials Fear Marina Fire Is Arsonist's Work

MARSHFIELD - Derek Chandler was heartbroken as he surveyed the remains of his fishing boat after it was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

Chandler, 41, said he purchased the 42-foot boat, the Ellen Marie, about a month ago and did not have insurance.

"All the money I have is set in there," said Chandler, who lives in Carver. "I had another boat. I sold it to buy this boat."

Two other boats - a recreational boat and another fishing boat- were destroyed and three others were damaged during the fire, which occurred at Taylor Marine, 95 Central St.

The fire department responded at 12:15 a.m. and put out the fire within the hour. Firefighters from Duxbury, Pembroke and Norwell assisted.

The fire began in a storage area next to the town pier, where 15 to 20 boats are kept during the winter.

Capt. Shaun Robinson of the Marshfield Fire Department said police were forced to evacuate nearby homes as a precaution in case of toxic fumes. No injuries were reported.

"Because (the fire) involved boats made of fiberglass, the smoke was huge," Robinson said. "Police began evacuating people from Branch Street and Cherry Street."

Several Marshfield residents were at the marina Thursday morning looking at the damaged boats. "My boat would have been there if I wasn't still fishing," Jeff Brackman said.

Brackman, 30, keeps his boat in the water until the fishing season is over.

The marina's owner, John Taylor, 56, said the fire was unusual.

"It is unusual for boats that aren't being worked on for things to get started like this, because there's not a source of ignition," Taylor said.

Personnel from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the marina Thursday morning.

Earlier in the night, at about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, a small fire broke out at 54 Central Ave. in Scituate - the second fire in the neighborhood within a week.

Scituate Fire Deputy Chief John Murphy said the blaze damaged the rear deck of the house, which is a summer home.

Murphy said the fire is under investigation, but the cause may be arson, Murphy said. "There's definitely concern down there," he said.

A fire that occurred last Thursday at 204 Central Ave. in Humarock was deemed arson by the fire marshal.

There have been numerous arson fires throughout southeastern Massachusetts in the past month. All were set early in the morning in unoccupied buildings.

Taylor said the Humarock fire fits the pattern.

"It's similar to the other ones being investigated," he said. "It's a possibility that they're all related."

Humarock residents are apprehensive about the possibility of an arsonist on the loose.

Kelly Dwight of Humarock said she is worried occupied homes may be targeted at some point.

"I'm very concerned," she said. "What worries me is that often arsonists escalate, so what if the thrill is not so thrilling anymore, and now they're going to target homes with people in them?"

Marilyn Howe, a Humarock resident and owner of Sands End Cafe, said she is concerned because the peninsula is particularly vulnerable to vandalism due to its isolated location and old homes.

"Humarock certainly has been hit lately with quite a few fires that are disconcerting to all of the residents," she said.

The state fire marshal's office has not released any further details about the fires.

Anyone with information about suspicious activity should call the arson hotline at 800-682-9229.

Sara Feijo may be reached at [email protected]

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