At just before 11:30 p.m. on August 18, an alarm rang out in New Shoreham, Rhode Island, signaling a fire that was already spreading quickly inside the Harborside Inn on Block Island. The flames were hidden from view, but the danger was clear and immediate.
Block Island Fire Chief Chris Hobe was still awake, 2.5 miles away, when the box alarm came in at 11:23 p.m. A witness had reported smoke on Water Street. Within four minutes, Hobe was on the scene. Smoke was pouring from an exhaust fan on the first floor, and soon it was spilling from the roof. At 11:52 p.m., he called for a second alarm, marking the first time mutual aid had ever been requested on the island.
This was exactly the scenario Hobe had prepared for over the past winter. He had worked with mainland fire chiefs and local leaders to create Block Island’s first mutual aid plan. If the fire spread to the neighboring Victorian-style wood-frame buildings along Water Street, the historic downtown could be lost. That’s why swift action was critical.
The Harborside Inn, once known as the Pequot House and later the Royal Hotel, was built in 1879. These old structures, while charming, are highly vulnerable due to their balloon framing construction—where studs run all the way up the building without fire breaks between floors. This made the fire especially dangerous, as it quickly reached the attic, above any sprinkler systems.
Once everyone was safely evacuated, firefighters focused on preventing the blaze from jumping to nearby buildings. Some of these structures were only a few feet away and already warm to the touch. The risk of water running out also loomed large. Block Island only has 300,000 gallons of stored water, far less than mainland towns with access to hydrants. With help 13 miles offshore, every minute counted.
The Block Island Volunteer Fire Department is small, with about 20 active members. Twelve responded initially, but more joined as the situation worsened. Junior members as young as 14 helped out. Two firefighters used an infrared drone to locate hot spots, and others communicated via radios to direct water streams through thick smoke.
As news of the fire spread, firefighters from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York arrived to assist. Onlookers helped drag hoses to Old Harbor, where seawater would eventually be used. Others moved propane tanks to reduce fire risks.
At 12:23 a.m., Chris Myers, the Block Island Ferry’s port captain, was woken up by a call from the dispatcher. A hotel was burning, and they needed as many fire trucks as possible. Hobe had already called for mutual aid, setting the plan into motion. By midnight, New England Airlines was alerted, and within hours, two planes full of firefighters arrived.
Other firefighters traveled to Point Judith and were ferried to the island by U.S. Coast Guard vessels. Fireboats from Newport, Narragansett, and North Kingstown were preparing to join the effort. Ladder trucks would have to come by ferry, a 13-mile journey that took about an hour. By 1:30 a.m., the first fire trucks were heading out.
By dawn, three ferries had delivered ladder trucks, engines, an incident command post, and around 30 firefighters. About 70 more arrived via air and sea. As the night wore on, the water company superintendent monitored the municipal supply closely. Using too much fresh water would mean a boil water advisory, which would hurt businesses during peak season. So, at 3 a.m., they switched to seawater, even though it could damage equipment.
Chief Hobe estimated that over 3 million gallons of water were used to contain the fire. 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. Though the Harborside Inn was a total loss, no one was injured, and the surrounding buildings were saved.
In the following months, fire departments across southern Rhode Island and Connecticut held Zoom meetings to refine their mutual aid plan. They tested response times, practiced connecting fireboat fittings, and planned tabletop exercises. A new ladder truck is set to arrive in January, and Hobe is working to raise $10 million for a new fire station with seven bays. He believes a larger pump station in Old Harbor is essential to better protect the island’s historic downtown.