So far it’s been a long, hard day in Mattapoisett for emergency services workers. Currently the Mattapoisett Fire Department is fighting a large fire at the Mattapoisett Boatyard on Ned’s Point Road alongside several area departments.

            At approximately 1:30 pm today, the Mattapoisett Fire Department was called to a possible explosion and fire on Ned’s Point Road. Upon arrival, the first units reported a large fire in a commercial building at the Mattapoisett Boatyard. Immediately, the commanding unit requested the incident be escalated to a third alarm, which refers to the number of units that are being requested at the scene.

            Apparatus was initially sent from Marion, Rochester, Fairhaven, Wareham and Acushnet. Firefighting efforts were initially hampered by the close quarters on Ned’s Point Road and difficulties in getting water to the fire. Attempts to increase the water supply included calling several tankers to the scene from area departments, which carry large amounts of water.

            The fire spread quickly as the industrial location had many flammable liquids present for boat maintenance as well as propane tanks. Early on, there was a concern that the propane tanks would create issues, and at one point they were observed venting gas in the heat of the fire.

            During the fire, units on scene reported that the fire was travelling through the trees and threatening adjacent properties.

            As of 2:40 pm, Mattapoisett Fire Chief Andrew Murray requested a fifth alarm for additional personnel, as most of those working the fire had become fatigued. Four additional engines were dispatched, including departments as far away as Lakeville and Middleboro as well as the County’s Incident Command Task Force.

            By 3:00 pm, Eversource had arrived and was attempting to shut off the natural-gas supply to the site. Efforts to do so were slowed as Eversource needed to bring a backhoe on location to dig a hole in the street to access the shut-off valve.

            Earlier in the morning, the Mattapoisett Police Department issued a phone alert looking for a suspicious person. The incident started when a suspicious vehicle was reported to the Mattapoisett Police. When the officers arrived to check out the vehicle, it fled the scene and eventually ran off the road while attempting to negotiate the onramp to Interstate 195.

Once the vehicle crashed, one of the two occupants fled the scene and the police apprehended the other. The Police Department issued a Reverse 911 notification to be on the lookout for a suspicious male in the area of North Street and I-195 wearing one shoe.

            Just after noontime, a second notification call went out that the police had apprehended the man with one shoe.

            Both incidents will be updated as more information becomes available.