By Elizabeth F. McNamara

Two boats that had been sitting dry docked for years burned in the area of Greene Industries off Rocky Hollow Road Monday night.

Firefighters were called to the scene before 9 p.m. and worked to quell the fires until well after 1 a.m., according to Fire Chief Bernie Patenaude.

Police were on hand to keep onlookers away, as dark smoke and burnt plastic and fiberglass fumes filled the air.

“It’s a nasty smoke,” said Patenaude of burning fiberglass. “Fiberglass is hard to put out and there were a lot of enclosed spaces.”

As for the cause, the town and state fire marshals are investigating. According to Patenaude, it was a suspicious fire.

“It could have been accidental but it definitely wasn’t normal. There was no power to them,” he said of the boats.

It’s unclear who owned the boats.

East Greenwich News is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and we rely on donations. Help us keep reporting on local issues by clicking on the Donate button below or sending a check to EG News, 18 Prospect St., E.G., RI 02818. Thanks!