Fire Damages Historic Custom House Wharf in Portland

A fire ripped through the historic Custom House Wharf in Portland, Maine's Old Port waterfront on Friday evening, the day after Christmas, damaging several aging buildings and boats in the 19th- and 20th-century fishing hub that now houses seafood restaurants and other businesses.

The blaze broke out just after 5:30 p.m., with flames and thick smoke visible from multiple structures along the wharf, authorities reported. The Portland Fire Department issued a three-alarm response and posted a notification on Facebook shortly before 6 p.m., urging residents to avoid the area and exercise caution. Fire crews from Portland and two neighboring communities battled the fire for nearly two hours before bringing it under control, while other departments covered calls elsewhere in the city. Responders deployed a fire boat to spray water from the harbor, as frozen hydrants hampered land-based efforts amid the cold weather.

One or two firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operation but did not require hospitalization, officials said. No other injuries were reported. Several boats tied to the wharf were damaged, with at least one sinking. Evacuations were ordered for nearby areas...