Massive Fire Forces Evacuations On Martha's Vineyard

A large fire at a Coast Guard station on Martha's Vineyard destroyed a boathouse and sent firefighters on the island scrambling.

The fire in the Menemsha Harbor village of Chilmark broke out around 2:45 Monday afternoon.

The marina and nearby Menemsha Beach were evacuated.

Ryan Dylan works at a restaurant across the street from the station, and said the fire spread beyond the station.

"It started right there at the Coast Guard shed there, at the fuel depot there, I believe a building that belonged to Larson's fish market was right next to it. So both of those buildings are gone," Dylan said. "And then it kind of extended all the way down to the rest of the dock."

Ryan said boats at a nearby marina were also damaged.

The 47-foot Coast Guard boat at the station evacuated the pier just before it was engulfed in flames.

Roads around the village were closed.

Volunteer firefighters had to be treated for dehydration and smoke inhalation, according to the Vineyard Gazette.