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Historic Limestone Cottage in Port Hope Burns to 30% Damage in Late-Night Fire

  //house-home.net./content/2025/12/14/historic-li .. -hope-burns-to-30-damage-in-late-night-fire.html
  Published in House and Home on Sunday, December 14th 2025 at 12:09 GMT by WABI-TV

Summary of the WABI TV Article “Limestone House Fire Under Investigation” (Dec 14 2025)

The WABI TV report on the December 14, 2025, fire at a historic limestone residence in the coastal town of Port Hope has become a focal point for discussions about building materials, fire safety, and local emergency response protocols. Although the official investigation is still ongoing, the article provides a detailed account of what is known so far, highlights key leads and theories, and links to several follow‑up stories that give readers broader context about limestone construction, historic preservation, and recent regulatory changes.

1. The Incident – What Happened

• Location & Property: The fire broke out in the front‑wing kitchen of a 1927 limestone cottage on East Harbor Drive. The house, owned by the late John Marlowe, had been on the National Register of Historic Places for two decades and had recently undergone a $250,000 restoration overseen by the local Historical Preservation Society (HPS).
• Time & Sequence: According to the fire‑reporter, the blaze was first noticed at 10:12 p.m. by a neighbor who called 9‑1‑1. Within minutes, the front‑wing walls were engulfed; the blaze later spread to the second‑story living room, damaging the living area and several pieces of period furniture.
• Casualties: The Marlowe family – father Robert (54), mother Lisa (51), and their 8‑year‑old daughter, Mira – all survived. Two firefighters sustained minor burns, and the resident of the adjacent property, a 68‑year‑old widow named Mrs. Eleanor Hughes, suffered smoke inhalation that required hospitalization. No fatalities were reported, though the report noted that a former resident, 83‑year‑old Edward “Eddie” Kline, had died of a heart attack at the scene due to the shock of the event.

2. Damage Assessment

• Structural Loss: The fire consumed roughly 30 % of the building’s footprint, heavily damaging the limestone façade and the original 1920s wooden frame behind it. Fire damage to the roof was extensive; the slate tiles were warped, and the underlying timber structure was compromised.
• Estimated Costs: Early estimates from the Fire Department’s damage board place the loss at $1.2 million, with the city’s insurance policy covering about $500,000. The homeowner’s private policy may cover the rest, but the extent of the damage and the property’s historic status have made insurance payout discussions complicated.

3. Initial Findings – The Investigation

• Suspected Cause: The preliminary fire‑scene analysis points to a faulty electrical wiring in the kitchen’s baseboard heater system. The heating unit, installed during the recent renovation, had been wired directly into a circuit that was later found to be overloaded.
• Other Possibilities: The article’s investigative reporter, Melissa Chen, cites an earlier 2019 fire in a similar limestone house in nearby West Harbor that was eventually ruled arson. Because the cause was undetermined, authorities have not ruled out arson yet.
• Arson Investigation Team: The Port Hope Police Department’s Fire‑Arson Unit (PAFAU) is now on the scene, looking for any evidence of accelerants or suspicious behavior. A forensic analyst from the state’s Crime Laboratory was dispatched to examine the burned wiring and any potential residue.

4. Community and Expert Reactions

• Fire Chief’s Statement: Chief Alan McCord, in an interview on the article’s linked “Local Fire Chief Explains Investigation Process” page, emphasized that limestone “does not ignite, but it can conduct heat, making a fire spread more rapidly once it gets inside.” He added that the building’s insulation—mostly fiberglass—may have contributed to the rapid heat transfer.
• Preservation Society Response: The HPS’s director, Carla Ortiz, expressed concern that the incident highlights the risk of modern electrical installations in historic structures. Ortiz notes that the society has been lobbying for stricter codes that mandate fire‑resistant wiring and insulation in older homes.
• Safety Advocacy: The linked “Limestone Building Properties and Fire Risk” article, published by the State Fire Prevention Authority, cites studies showing that limestone walls can trap heat for up to 30 minutes after a fire has been extinguished, potentially reigniting hidden flames. The report recommends installing automatic sprinkler systems in all limestone structures older than 50 years.

5. Historical Context – Why This Matters

• Port Hope’s Historic Homes: Port Hope’s downtown is known for its limestone heritage, with roughly 60 registered historic properties. The article links to a 2023 piece that outlined a local ordinance requiring new additions to historic limestone homes to incorporate fire‑suppression systems. The Marlowe house had not yet been upgraded to the new ordinance’s standard, which critics now say may have contributed to the damage.
• Previous Incidents: A related article about a 2017 fire in a neighboring limestone townhouse—where a gas line explosion was the cause—provides comparative data. That incident, the report notes, resulted in $750,000 in damages but no injuries, underscoring how quickly different ignition sources can affect similar structures.

6. Regulatory Landscape and Future Directions

• New Fire Code: The state legislature passed a “Historic Structure Fire Safety Act” in early 2025, mandating retrofitting of all historic limestone properties with sprinklers and fire‑resistant wiring by 2027. The Marlowe house, built in 1927, would have been exempt, but the new ordinance retroactively applies to structures with significant commercial or public usage.
• Potential Litigation: The article hints that the Marlowe family may file a lawsuit against the renovation contractor, citing negligence in failing to comply with the new safety standards. Legal experts linked in the piece suggest that the contractor could be liable for damages if the fire is indeed linked to faulty wiring.

7. Conclusion – The Bigger Picture

The WABI TV article does more than report on a tragic fire; it paints a broader picture of the tension between historic preservation and modern safety standards. The use of limestone—a material prized for its durability and aesthetic appeal—has, in this case, turned into a liability once the fire took hold. By following the investigative trail, the piece underscores the importance of updating older homes with contemporary fire‑safety technology and highlights the need for community-wide cooperation among homeowners, preservationists, and regulatory bodies.

For readers seeking deeper dives into specific aspects, the article offers several embedded links:

• Local Fire Chief Explains Investigation Process – a deeper look at the technical steps PAFAU is taking.
• Limestone Building Properties and Fire Risk – a scientific overview of how limestone interacts with fire.
• Historic Preservation Guidelines – a copy of the city’s updated ordinance.
• Previous Similar Incidents – a timeline of historic home fires in the region.

These supplementary resources help contextualize the immediate incident within long‑term building safety discussions and serve as a call to action for homeowners and policymakers alike.