BLOCK ISLAND, R.I. — Those seeking to visit Block Island on Saturday are urged to postpone their plans as the island is under a State of Emergency to pick up the pieces left from a hotel fire overnight.
The Harborside Inn on Water Street caught fire around midnight, and it took 50 crew members - who were flown in or sailed in from all over Rhode Island - over six hours to put the blaze out, according to the Block Island Chamber of Commerce. The roof caved in at around 1:30 a.m.
"Block Island has a fire department on the island, but this is the first time we've actually had to respond there," said South Kingstown Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bradley. "It took about an hour for crews and a half hour by the Coast Guard boat."
There are no reports of injuries to civilians, guests, or firefighters at this time.
The Block Island high-speed Ferry will resume service from Pt. Judith at 1:20 p.m. Saturday, with other ferries on modified schedules.
Block Island Express, which has a port in New London, canceled its Saturday morning trips and has since resumed a modified service schedule.
Tourists are being asked to postpone their trip to Block Island as there is limited water and no power on the island, the Chamber said.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
All reservations in all Block Island properties made for any dates between August 18 and August 24 will be canceled and fully refunded.
For more information on reservations, click here.
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