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Massive marina fire torches boats, cars and buildings in Massachusetts

Smoke from the fire was so thick that it was picked up on weather radar

Graeme Massie
Los Angeles
Friday 19 August 2022 23:55 BST
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(AP)

A massive blaze torched a marina in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, leaving dozens of boats, cars and buildings destroyed.

There were reports of people with severe burns following the fire in Mattapoisett, according to the Fairhaven Firefighters Association.

Smoke from the fire was so thick that it was picked up on radar, according to the National Weather Service.

“The big thing was it’s an old building and the barn that the fire seemed to start in is next to the paint barn so of course I knew that and the whole time the smoke was just black and bellowing. First I heard a couple of booms, couple more booms and then after that just pops, things crackling,” witness David Horne told CBS Boston.

“I feel like I lost a family member. I was down at the town pier and hundreds of people were there, they were just devastated.”

(AP)

The area was part of a NWS warning of elevated fire risk because of drought and high winds on Friday.

The Mattapoisett Boatyard’s website says it’s been a family-owned marina since 1962 and can store up to 150 vessels.

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