Bath Housing’s Seacliff Elderly and Disabled property located at 47 Floral Street in Bath, Maine suffered a substantial fire on Sunday, September 2, 2018. Investigations by both the Maine State Fire Marshals’ Office and Bath Housing’s insurance company concluded the fire originated in an apartment on the first floor in the south wing of the property and the source was either smoking or overloaded electrical circuits within the living area of the apartment. Because there are multiple possible sources, the Fire Marshall’s office has cited the cause as undetermined.
Nine apartments were made uninhabitable by a combination of fire, smoke, and water damage and those residents have been displaced. Relocated tenants are experiencing costs related to transportation and the cleaning and/or replacement of personal belongings. Individuals and organizations interested in assisting in the recovery effort may contact The Salvation Army Bath-Brunswick at 207-443-3611 to make a donation designated for those affected by the Seacliff fire. The Bath Area Food Bank is also supporting the food needs of those displaced and donations can be directed to them via bathfoodbank.org. Bath Housing thanks the community for its support during this time.
Bath Housing has developed individual relocation plans for displaced tenants and is in the process of identifying interim housing for each of the displaced tenants. Tenants may return to Seacliff after restoration is complete. Building restoration plans are being developed; demolition will begin the week of September 10 and full recovery of the building may take months.
The Seacliff Elderly and Disabled property is a 40-unit, multi-family facility serving disabled and elderly individuals and families with incomes less than 50% of the area median income.
Bath Housing is a mission driven organization that works to enhance housing stability for seniors, those with disabilities, and families in the greater Bath, Maine area in order to have a safe, vibrant, just and prosperous community. Stable housing is at the core of health and wellness. It promotes positive outcomes in education, employment, physical and mental health, and financial stability. Housing plays a significant role in strong, resilient families and vibrant communities.