Cape Cod Times
Reprinted with Permission

NORTH FALMOUTH — Firefighters from several towns battled a two-alarm fire Saturday that disrupted ongoing renovations at the Sea Crest Resort and Conference Center.


The blaze was first noticed by a worker in the three-story building around noon, Falmouth fire Capt. Timothy Smith said. The fire captain said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it began on the second floor and quickly spread to rooms on the third floor.

The building was empty except for a handful of workers, and no one was injured, Smith said.

Firefighters from Bourne, Mashpee, Sandwich and Cotuit either helped battle the fire — which Smith said took about an hour to extinguish — or provided mutual aid.

Sprinklers are shut off during construction, Smith said, but that part of the building does not have sprinklers installed.

Fire officials and Eladio Gore, the town building commissioner, were inspecting the building Saturday afternoon.

Scout Capital is part of the ownership group that purchased the resort exactly one year ago for $20.3 million. Erik Groezinger, field manager for Scout, said work crews have been conducting "major renovations" at the hotel in anticipation of a grand re-opening this summer.

Groezinger said the fire was started by a plumber who was doing sodering work on the second floor, but he said the damage was minor.


"We still plan to open on Memorial Day," Groezinger said.