A Demon Called Fire

The Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department responded and reported two boats on fire on Dock F. Firefighters worked quickly to run hose lines down to the dock. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and release the boats from the dock to alleviate additional boats to be damaged.

The Highway 58 VFD requested a mutual aid response to assist with the marina fire. The Chattanooga Fire Department and Dallas Bay VFD responded with the rescue boats to tow damaged boats to the shore line. The Tri-Community VFD and Hamilton County HazMat team responded to assist with hazardous materials clean up. Several marine towing companies responded as well to contain the spill to one area of the marina.

Don Campbell, Harrison Bay State Parks, Accessories suppliers reported two boats on Dock F are a total loss. The first boat was a 40-foot Silverton Cruiser owned by Mark Moore from Charleston, Tn. The second boat was a 1991 Bayliner Cruiser owned by Michael Cripps from Rock Springs, Ga.

Michael Gurney, manager of corporate communications for the Prince Rupert Port Authority, confirmed that the Alaska-bound ship radioed in that a number of containers were on fire. Two Smit Marine tugs were dispatched to hose down the flames.  The Prince Rupert Port Authority did offer the port as a refuge for the ship, but the captain determined everything was under control and the vessel continued on to Alaska.

In 1836, Col. Stephen Harrington, proprietor of Keene's Eagle Hotel, lost all the barns and stables, including a horse worth $200. The Fitchburg Stage Lines in town "lost four horses, China Accessories manufacturers a harness for a full team, 150 bushels of oats and three tons of hay."

By 1876, the Fire Department had 4,969 feet of hose, divided into 3,069 feet of 2.5-inch leather hose, 1,000 feet of linen hose and about 400 feet of 2-inch "nearly useless" hose.