OGUNQUIT, ME – A fire that broke out on Saturday night has caused significant damage to two well-known businesses in Ogunquit, Maine, leaving both residents and visitors devastated.
The fire started around 7 p.m. on Perkins Cove Road, a popular area in Ogunquit. It quickly spread to two businesses at 61 and 65 Perkins Cove Road, burning them to the ground. The fire was so intense that the businesses, including Uniques and Antiques and the Oarweed Restaurant, were destroyed.
Bridgette Vermette, a local resident, expressed the community’s sadness, saying, “My heart feels for this community.” Many others shared her feelings as they watched the flames consume the businesses they had known for years.
Ogunquit Fire Chief Russell Osgood reported that firefighters faced several challenges while battling the fire, including freezing temperatures and problems with electrical wires. “The fire was impinging on the fire lines directly above the hydrant that we would normally have used. The water supply was a challenge, as well as getting the power shut off to the area,” Osgood explained.
Fortunately, crews from eight nearby communities, including North Berwick, Kittery, Wells, and York Beach, arrived to assist Ogunquit’s firefighters. “It was amazing to see the community that came together with the firefighters,” Vermette said, expressing gratitude for the support from neighboring towns.
Despite the brave efforts of the firefighters, both businesses were severely damaged. “Uniques and Antiques is a complete loss. And the Oarweed Restaurant, in the rear, has significant damage, and I expect it to be a total loss as well,” Osgood added.
Uniques and Antiques, which had been a beloved store selling Christmas items and other collectibles for decades, was lost just four days before Christmas. “You can see the amount of people coming down here, that had memories, that probably came here every summer to enjoy the community down here, so there’s a lot of sadness today, for sure,” Vermette said.
Next door, Oarweed Restaurant, a staple in the area for over 50 years, was also badly damaged. Thomas Conley, a local, described the restaurant as a popular spot, saying, “People have been coming there for many generations, so it is what people come to the cove for.”
Despite the destruction, the community came together to support one another. Osgood confirmed that one firefighter was injured during the fire, but no other injuries were reported.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. “It took a lot of folks, pretty cold conditions, a lot of water, a lot of challenges, but the guys did a great job,” Osgood said, praising the efforts of the firefighters involved in the difficult rescue operation.
As the community begins to recover from this devastating event, residents like Vermette and Conley continue to reflect on the deep loss felt by so many. “It’s a great loss,” Conley said, capturing the feelings of many in Ogunquit.
