Duct Fire Extinguished at Marblehead Boatyard

Workers at a welding shop off Beacon Street smelled burning lint and dust Wednesday morning and trailed it to its source — corner ductwork — and reported the fire.

Firefighters responded to the 11:17 a.m fire call at Fraser Custom Welding and Marine Fabrication, at Graves Boatyard.

They pulled the ductwork's wooden covering free and hauled out the burning material, bringing it outside for extinguishing, said Marblehead Fire Capt. Michael Porter.

The firefighters, under incident commander Capt. Gregg McLaughlin, probed for any fire extension at the shop, ultimately clearing the scene about 12:30.

What caused the combustable material to catch fire is undetermined, Capt. Porter said.

The workers were not welding at the time of the fire, he said.

The owner of the business is glad he and hsi employee were there to smell the fire.

"We're lucky it didn't happen last night," said owner Mike Fraser. "The whole building would have went up."

Fraser specializes in welding metal on boats, from masts to railings.

He has been in business since 1985, and at the 3 Cradleskid Lane location since 1992, he said.

The damage was minimal and the business remains open.

The fire department worries about boatyard fires where so many activities take place and buildings are typically older and more susceptible to fire.

A good safety practice at all boatyards is regular housekeeping including weekly checks of equipment, Capt. Porter said.