Of interest … unique mutual aid

At just before 11:30 p.m. on August 18, an alarm rang out in New Shoreham, Rhode Island, signaling a fire that was already spreading rapidly through the Harborside Inn on Block Island—hidden from view and growing fast.

Block Island Fire Chief Chris Hobe was at home, 2.5 miles away, when the box alarm came in at 11:23 p.m. The dispatcher reported seeing smoke on Water Street. Within four minutes, Hobe arrived on the scene. Smoke was pouring from an exhaust fan on the first floor, and soon it was pushing out of the eaves. At 11:52 p.m., he called for a second alarm, marking the first time ever in Block Island’s history that mutual aid was requested.

The risk was high—if the fire spread to the neighboring Victorian-era wood-frame buildings along Water Street, the historic downtown could be destroyed. This was exactly what Hobe had prepared for during the previous winter, when he worked with mainland fire chiefs and local leaders to develop the island’s first mutual aid plan.

The Harborside Inn, once known as the Pequot House and later the Royal Hotel, dates back to 1879. These 19th-century buildings, while charming, are also highly flammable. Built using balloon framing, they lacked fire breaks between floors, making them vulnerable to rapid fire spread. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had already reached the attic, above any sprinkler systems.

Once everyone was safely evacuated, the focus shifted to preventing the fire from spreading to nearby structures, some of which were only feet apart and already warm to the touch. Adding to the challenge was the limited water supply—Block Island only has 300,000 gallons stored, far less than mainland towns. And with help coming from 13 miles offshore, every minute counted.

The Block Island Volunteer Fire Department has around 20 active members. Twelve responded initially, but more than 30 eventually joined, including junior members as young as 14. Two firefighters used an infrared drone to spot hot spots, while others communicated via radios to guide water streams into the right areas.

As news of the fire spread, vacationing firefighters from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York rushed to help. Onlookers assisted by dragging hoses to Old Harbor in case seawater needed to be used. Others moved propane tanks to reduce the risk of explosions.

At 12:23 a.m., Chris Myers, the port captain for the Block Island Ferry, was asleep when he got a call about the burning hotel. He quickly mobilized efforts to get as many fire trucks as possible to the island.

Hobe had already requested mutual aid at 11:52 p.m., setting off the emergency plan. By midnight, New England Airlines was alerted, and two planes carrying firefighters landed within 12 minutes. Other crews were sent by U.S. Coast Guard vessels, while fireboats from Newport, Narragansett, and North Kingstown prepared to join the effort.

By 1:30 a.m., the ferry was loaded with fire trucks and heading toward Block Island. It arrived at 2:30 a.m., and the first ladder trucks rolled off. By dawn, three ferries had delivered additional crews, equipment, and over 30 firefighters. More arrived by air, including seven who could only carry uniforms and helmets due to weight limits.

Throughout the night, the water company superintendent monitored the municipal supply closely. Using too much freshwater would force a boil-water advisory, complicating things during peak season. At 3 a.m., firefighters switched to seawater, despite the risk of corrosion.

Chief Hobe estimated that 3 million gallons of water were used to fight the fire. It took two days for the system to recover, but the town never ran out. By noon on Saturday, the fire was mostly under control. No one was injured, and the blaze was contained to the Harborside Inn.

In the weeks following the incident, fire departments across southern Rhode Island and even Connecticut met virtually to refine their mutual aid plans. They considered factors like time of day, weather, and transportation logistics. In June, fireboats from several towns conducted a trial run, and practice runs were held to test how to load equipment onto ferries.

A new ladder truck is expected to arrive in January, and Hobe is working to raise $10 million to build a larger fire station with seven bays. He believes a new pump station in Old Harbor is essential to better protect the downtown area.