Hotel fire on Block Island under investigation, water supply limited - updates

Water currently limited on Block Island, residents and visitors asked to conserve water

The Town of New Shoreham has asked all residents and visitors on the island to conserve water over the next 48 hours, as the town's water supply is limited.

Officials say fire originated in the kitchen, is under investigation

A press release issued by the Town of New Shoreham shed light on how the fire at the Harborside Inn started.

According to the release, Block Island Volunteer Fire & Rescue responded to a fire alarm at the inn at 11:23 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 and found a working fire in the first floor kitchen. A little more than 20 minutes later, a second alarm was struck.

The fire is currently under control, the release says, and is under investigation by the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal's office. No injuries of civilians or firefighters were reported.

Several other businesses were damaged in the fire.

The town's emergency shelter, at the Block Island School, is housing displaced guests.

Gov. McKee offers support to impacted Block Island businesses

In a series of tweets, Gov. Dan McKee thanked first responders for their efforts in battling the Harborside Inn fire on Block Island and said his administration is working with state agencies to help impacted businesses.

"From responding to an unprecedented tornado yesterday to helping contain a dangerous fire on Block Island, we are incredibly grateful for the tireless work of emergency responders across the state over the last 48 hours. Thank you for keeping Rhode Islanders safe," he wrote in a tweet.

The Block Island Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department – which has two fire trucks and other vehicles in its fleet – responded to the blaze early Saturday morning with the help of firefighters from around the state who responded through a mutual aid plan.

Practice drills for the mutual aid response were done earlier this year.

McKee said several government agencies will be involved in providing assistance to the impacted businesses on Block Island.

Block Island Ferry updates schedule for the day

Downtown Block Island is closed to traffic, as firefighters continue to monitor for hot spots at the Harborside Inn, according to a Facebook post from the Block Island Times. No injuries have been reported, though the historic inn appears to be a total loss.

In an 11 a.m. update, the Block Island Ferry said the Pt. Judith High Speed Ferry will resume service at 1:20 p.m. and the Newport High Speed ferry departures are canceled.

The traditional ferries are running on a revised schedule for passengers with vehicle reservations. To see the schedule, go here.

For online ticket holders, same-day round-trip tickets will be automatically refunded, according to the update. Customers would have passenger tickets for today and want to cancel can email info@blockislandferry.com with the confirmation number to get a refund.

Harborside Inn says everyone has been evacuated, no injuries

An emergency advisory on the booking website for the Harborside said "everyone has been evacuated."

"This is an ongoing situation and we are doing everything possible to make sure everyone is safe and dealing with this ongoing emergency as best we can," the notice said.

The Harborside Inn building, a wooden, four-story, Victorian with large street-facing front porch, is listed on the National Register of Historic places. The hotel has 36 rooms, according to its website.

The building was built in 1890, according to assessors records.

No injuries were immediately reported.

Block Island under State of Emergency due to fire, visitors asked to stay away

A large fire at the Harborside Inn in New Shoreham on Block Island burned through the early morning hours Saturday and is limiting access to the island.

Block Island ferry service is canceled due to a state of emergency and electricity was out, ferry operator Interstate Navigation said on its website.

"The town of Block Island is in an active State of Emergency and is asking visitors not to travel to Block Island today," the ferry website said. "There is limited water and no power in town."

The large year-round traditional ferry is carrying emergency responders and customers with vehicle reservations, the ferry said. High speed ferries from Point Judith and Newport have been canceled.

Firefighters from around southern Rhode Island traveled to the island to help crews there fight the fire through the night.

The Harborside Inn is located on Water Street in the center of Old Harbor and across the street from the ferry terminal.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Live: State of Emergency on Block Island after hotel fire