Maine Governor Janet Mills attended Monday’s Portland City Council meeting to honor the Portland Fire Department, as firefighters were recognized for their response to a massive fire at the Custom House Wharf.
Officials said the three-alarm fire at 25-27 Custom House Wharf on Dec. 26, 2025 caused significant damage to several portions of the attached buildings, including storage and maintenance spaces used by multiple fishermen, lobster trap repair shops and businesses such as Nanuq Kayak and Maritime Antique. The Sea Bag Factory Store was also impacted and will be closed for the foreseeable future.
No injuries were reported among members of the public, but two firefighters sustained minor injuries that did not require transport to a hospital. Officials said multiple boats tied to the wharf sustained damage from the fire, and one boat did sink.
Portland firefighters worked in freezing conditions to stop the flames from spreading to other businesses. “I sat on the pavement of the Custom House Wharf praying for (the fire) to stop, for hours and hours it felt like. These gentlemen and women saved the Old Port,” said John Jabar, co-owner of the Custom House Wharf. “There is no other way to speak about it.”
The City Council issued a proclamation recognizing the Portland Fire Department for its heroic efforts during the Custom House Wharf fire. Mills presented the proclamation to Portland Fire Chief Chad Johnston during Monday’s meeting.
