Arson Ruled Out in James Hook Fire Probe

The Boston Fire Department says an electrical or mechanical problem was the most probable cause of the fire that destroyed the James Hook & Co. lobster facility on the Boston waterfront on May 30.

Investigators ruled out arson as a cause in the seven-alarm blaze that caused an estimated $5 million in damage. Because the origin of the fire, the center of the building, was completely consumed by flames, a final determination is unlikely. The Hook family has vowed to rebuild.

It took about 135 firefighters, a scuba team and a Massachusetts Port Authority fireboat to put the fire out on Fort Point Channel.

James Hook & Co. was established in 1925, when the Hook family started distributing Maine and Canadian lobsters to upscale restaurants around Boston. The company evolved into a reputable wholesaler and popular retail store, where shoppers could choose from a variety of seafood products, but lobster was its main focus. The modest building stood in close proximity to the bustling financial district, luxury hotels and the Big Dig project.

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