'In the end, we lost everything': Mattapoisett Boatyard rebuilding after devastating fire

MATTAPOISETT — When your more than 60-year-old family business including six buildings, 20 boats, 40 or so cars and every tool on the property are destroyed in perhaps the largest fire in town history, you figure it's going to take a whole lot of planning to rebuild.

But, says Mattapoisett Boatyard owner David Kaiser, the close-knit MBY fraternity of staff members are grateful there's one thing they don't have to plan for: a funeral.

"The fact that we're not planning a funeral, the fact that nobody died — and we could be talking multiple lives here — I can't understate how that keeps us going."

Phil Macomber, 50, an employee of 20 years standing, was seriously injured in the Aug. 19, six-alarm fire at 32 Ned's Point Road. He suffered burns and a shattered femur.

But, Kaiser said, Macomber is recovering, has left intensive care and is now in an acute burn unit, which is positive progress.

"He's going to be OK. So we can take a positive outlook on the rebuild and how we're going to get through this," he said.

A GoFundMe page for Macomber raised more than $150,000 before Macomber himself said that was enough.

"Phil, is doing much better. He's healing," Kaiser said Wednesday.

Four MYB employees effected Macomber's rescue after an explosion triggered the blaze. The fire's cause was determined to be a spark igniting gasoline vapors while a boat’s gas tank was being replaced.

Kaiser said two of the employees were on hand and two more "came running in" to the scene of the explosion to help.

"Our staff is very close. We have 20 full-time employees, and another 12 or 14 part time," he said.

All four have declined to come forward to describe their actions that day.

"They're really modest about that," said Kaiser.

The boatyard is on the mend, as well.

The debris has been cleared, and the lot is once more ready to become host to the business.

Obviously, though, there's much to be done.

"Each day the scope of what's ahead of us just gets bigger and bigger. I keep forgetting I should keep a notepad next to the bed at night to note all the things that are lost. In the end, we lost everything."

He said one patron whose boat was destroyed and trailer mangled in the blaze was hoping the trailer's license plate was salvageable. Amazingly, it was.

But Kaiser told him he'd have to come remove it himself. Not even a screwdriver had survived the blaze. "My truck was also involved in the fire, and of the 20 boats that were there two were our family boats."

Kaiser said their five, full-time mechanics had lost all their tools due to fire damage. "We have to replace everything."

He's becoming "quite knowledgeable about insurance claims," he said. Though, he noted, their insurance agent has been extremely helpful. "He just keeps exceeding our expectations, and then the field surveyors who are here for our insurance companies are just maestros, getting everything done."

Kaiser said someone had likened their current situation to a "start-up."

But that's actually not accurate, he said.

"With a start-up, you start from zero. We're more than 75% there because we have our staff and we have the land."

That leaves rebuilding, and Kaiser, though aware of the enormity of the task, is optimistic.

"We're going to rebuild a better building than we had, no question. We've already had one meeting with the construction company so we're in the design process right now," he said.

The community's support has been "amazing," he said, and he's been thanking folks for their help in updates on MBY's Facebook page. Kaiser owns MBY with son, Ned.

A gofundme page has also been set up for Mattapoisett Boatyard by David Horne, which had raised more than $78,000 by Thursday.

Horne, who describes himself as "a life-long friend" of MBY, said the gofundme will run through Oct. 20, which is also the date of an auction-event fundraiser for the boatyard he's organizing from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bay Club. It will include hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar. Tickets cost $150 per person. Those wishing to attend can email Susan Horne at hornesusan@aol.com. Those wishing to donate for the silent auction can email David at  davidjameshorne@gmail.com. All donors and donations will be listed on Horne's website, mybuzzardsbay.com, which includes a video Horne took of the fire.

"So now we all need is to rebuild," Kaiser said this week as work on the site progressed.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Mattapoisett Boatyard plans to rebuild after devastating fire