On the night of August 18, just before 11:30 p.m., an alarm was triggered at the Harborside Inn in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island. What began as a small fire quickly spread unseen through the historic Victorian-era building, threatening to engulf the entire downtown area.
Block Island Fire Chief Chris Hobe was not far away when the alarm came in at 11:23 p.m. A call about smoke on Water Street sent him racing to the scene within minutes. Upon arrival, he found thick smoke pouring from an exhaust fan on the first floor, and soon it was spilling out of the eaves. At 11:52 p.m., he called for a second alarm, marking the first time mutual aid had been requested on the island.
This wasn’t just any fire—it could have turned into a disaster if it spread to the other wooden buildings along Water Street, many of which were built using balloon framing, a method that left no fire breaks between floors. The Harborside Inn, originally known as the Pequot House and later the Royal Hotel, had stood since 1879, and its age made it especially vulnerable.
As firefighters arrived, the fire had already reached the attic, beyond the reach of any sprinklers. Their main goal became preventing the flames from jumping to nearby structures—some of which were just feet apart and already warm to the touch. But there was another challenge: water supply.
Block Island only had 300,000 gallons of fresh water stored, far less than mainland towns with large hydrant systems. With help 13 miles away, and emergency crews arriving by boat or plane, every drop counted. At 3 a.m., officials ordered a switch to seawater, despite the risk of damaging equipment, to avoid a secondary crisis that would leave the town without clean water for days.
The Block Island Volunteer Fire Department, with only about 20 active members, saw its numbers swell during the night. Twelve firefighters initially responded, but more showed up, including junior members as young as 14. Two used an infrared drone to locate hot spots, while others communicated via radios to direct water streams where they were needed most.
As news of the fire spread, vacationing firefighters from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York rushed to help. Onlookers assisted in dragging hoses to Old Harbor, ready to draw seawater when necessary. Others moved propane tanks away from nearby buildings to reduce the risk of explosion.
At 12:23 a.m., Chris Myers, the port captain of the Block Island Ferry, was still asleep when the call came in. He immediately got to work coordinating the transport of fire trucks across the water. By midnight, New England Airlines had been alerted, and two planes carrying firefighters took off within minutes.
Meanwhile, U.S. Coast Guard vessels and marine task force fireboats were en route from Newport, Narragansett, and North Kingstown. Ladder trucks had to be ferried over, a process that took nearly an hour. At 1:30 a.m., the first group of firefighters set sail toward Block Island, arriving at 2:30 a.m.
By dawn, three ferries had delivered more than 30 firefighters, two ladder trucks, and an incident command post. Additional crews arrived by air, bringing even more support. Throughout the night, more than 60 firefighters from 15 different departments joined the effort.
With the fire raging, the 75 guests at the Harborside Inn had to evacuate quickly—many in pajamas, leaving behind belongings. Police also began evacuating nearby residents, who found shelter in the lobby of the National Hotel and at the Block Island School, where blankets and pillows were provided.
As the hours passed, the water company superintendent closely monitored the municipal supply. At 3 a.m., he gave the order to switch to seawater, knowing it would damage equipment but was necessary to avoid a broader crisis. Firefighters had used around 3 million gallons of water, and 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. Mainland firefighters began to leave, and the Harborside Inn was declared a total loss. No one was injured, and the fire had been contained to its original structure.
In the months leading up to the fire, local and regional fire departments had met to develop a new mutual aid plan. They explored how response times and transportation methods would vary based on weather, time of day, and sea conditions. Trial runs and tabletop exercises were conducted to ensure readiness.
Looking ahead, Chief Hobe is working on securing a new ladder truck for the island, due in January, and hopes to raise $10 million to build a larger fire station with seven bays. He also believes a new pump station in Old Harbor is essential to better protect the island’s historic downtown.
