Aerial video taken by WCVB-TV showed much of the boatyard in Mattapoisett engulfed in flames Friday afternoon, destroying a number of boats, vehicles and buildings. Firefighters from around the region, including from as far away as Providence, Rhode Island about 30 miles away, responded to the blaze.
Mattapoisett resident Richard Walker, 72, was heading out on a motorcycle ride when he spotted the thick black smoke. "There were flames and billowing black smoke. So much of it," Walker said. "Thankfully, it looks like a lot of people had their boats out in the harbor. There didn’t seem to be too many in the yard."Pamela Fleming saw the fire from the back deck of her summer home in Mattapoisett. She said the fire knocked out power to the area and forced the closure of a road to a popular beach and lighthouse just beyond the marina.