Dramatic, smoky fire damages stores, apartments in downtown Falmouth
FALMOUTH ― A fire broke out Monday in the block of buildings at 172-176 Main St. in downtown Falmouth, sending flames and smoke billowing over the complex that houses second floor apartments, and ground floor businesses including Twigs, Sea Bags, Homespun Gardens and a seasonal restaurant, Pickle Jar Kitchen.
"The police had Main Street blocked off in both directions. There were quite a few people out going to restaurants and police were diverting traffic around the area. The smoke was really thick, I did not linger too long. I didn't want to take in too much smoke," said George Brennan, former editor of the Martha's Vineyard Times.
Brennan, who lives about a block away, said he passes the building on daily walks. He went down to see the fire after spotting dramatic photos of flames and smoke on the community website Fabulous Falmouth.
The Falmouth police and fire departments were still at the scene of the early-evening fire and were not immediately available for comment. Photos showed firefighters in ladder trucks getting above flames on the second floor to put them out.
"It's always scary to see something like that, a wood-framed building like that, but it could have been worse. The fire station is pretty close and I think that helped," Brennan said of the complex, located next to Anejo Mexican Bistro and diagonally across from the town hall parking lot.
Several people gathered at the scene said they didn't want to comment.
The retail-residential building at 176 Main St. sold for nearly $3 million in early August, according to the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Main Street fire in Falmouth damages complex of stores and apartments
