FAIRHAVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT HEROES 89 YEARS AGO

Burned to the water line, the Ferry Steamer "Sankaty" lies at the bottom along side The Charles W. Morgan at Union Wharf, in Fairhaven, MA. 

FAIRHAVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT HEROES 89 YEARS AGO

By MLBaron Correspondent westislandweather.com

    On June 30, 1924 a huge pier fire lit the skies of New Bedford harbor. Bales of hay, barrels of kerosene, and other goods bound for the islands from the Steamship Dock near Pier 3 provided the fuel for a fire that ravaged out of control. This dockside conflagration lit the night sky and glowed for dozens of miles away. Onlookers watched along the shores of Fairhaven and New Bedford. 

    The fire burned off the lines to the steamer "Sankaty" and the ship caught fire and drifted into the middle of the harbor. It was like a giant floating fire ball drifting slowly towards Fairhaven and eventually along side the Charles W. Morgan, that was tied up at Fairhaven Union Wharf. The Morgan's port side began to get scorched by the intense fire. Smoke and steam began to consume the historic whale ship. 

    Through the heroic efforts of The Fairhaven Fire Department the Charles W. Morgan was saved. Story compiled from recollections of the late Fire Chief Lindsay Gifford who was there. From The MLBaron Historic Archives.