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.