FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2025

Contact: Chief Joseph Cappello

Phone: (508) 349-3754

Fishing Vessel  Fire Extends to Wellfleet Pier

Wellfleet, MA, -At approximately 5:30 AM this morning, the Wellfleet Fire Department received a dispatch to the Wellfleet Marina regarding a fire on a fishing vessel. Upon arrival, firefighters observed that the vessel was fully engulfed in flames, with the adjacent fishing pier also affected. The Wellfleet Harbormaster and the United States Coast Guard were promptly notified.

Firefighting operations commenced from the pier, as access to the fishing vessel was significantly constrained. Additional assistance was requested from the Truro, Eastham, Orleans, and Harwich fire departments, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, all of which contributed to efforts in extinguishing the fires on both the vessel and the pier. The Wellfleet Shellfish Warden, Harbormaster,  and the Department of Public Works provided essential logistical support.

Firefighters successfully brought the fire on the fishing vessel under control; however, they continued to manage persistent hotspots. Attention then shifted to the pier, where extinguishing the fire proved particularly challenging due to its construction materials and limited accessibility.

The utilization of vessels from the Harbormaster and the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated the firefighting efforts, with hoses connected to fire trucks. As a precautionary measure, the Barnstable County Dive Team was requested and placed on standby, along with the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services' Rehab truck, to ensure firefighter safety. Furthermore, hazardous material booms were deployed around the entire pier to contain potential contaminants and safeguard the shellfish grants.

Notification has been made to the State Fire Marshal, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), all of whom have been requested to attend the scene for the purpose of investigation. A determination regarding the cause of the fire has yet to be established, as the investigation conducted by the Fire Marshal is ongoing.