3:20 p.m.
The Boothbay Region Land Trust has opened a special fund to aid the Washburn & Doughty workers.

The Washburn & Doughty Employee Fund has been set up to help pay transition and other expenses for the workers who have been laid off as a result of the East Boothbay fire.

Many of the workers also lost their tools in the fire and may not be able to get another job without them, land trust officials said.

"It seems that we might be able to raise some funds to help cover these immediate needs," said Julie Lamy, the land trust's executive director.

Those who wish to help are asked to send contributions to the Washburn & Doughty Employee Fund, in care of First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Bath, PO Box 26, Boothbay Harbor Maine 04538 or to the Boothbay Region Land Trust, PO Box 183, Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538.

1:30 p.m.

Washburn and Doughty Shipyard has had to temporarily lay off about 65 of their 100 employees because of Friday's fire, according to Lee Smith, operations manager of the shipyard.

Owner Bruce Washburn said they hope to rebuild soon and rehire workers as soon as possible. "We hate to see anyone laid off, and we want to do what we can to get them working again," Washburn said.

Washburn and fellow owner Bruce Doughty met with employees this morning to tell them about the layoffs. About 35 of the workers will remain on staff to help with demolition and cleanup.

"I think we'll be building boats within three months," Smith said.

The company still hopes to salvage some parts of the boats burned in the fire. Today, about 10 employees and insurance personnel were assessing the boats' stability and determining what, if anything, was salvageable.

12:43 p.m.

Sparks from a cutting torch started Friday's fire that destroyed the Washburn and Doughty Shipyard in Boothbay, the State Fire Marshal's Office said today.

Investigators met this morning with representatives from the company and insurance companies.

They said employees were working on the larger of two tug boats under construction inside the building when sparks ignited the nearby exterior wall.

The fire spread along the wall into the roof.

The Fire Marshal's Office said the fire was accidental.

9:20 a.m.

State officials were scheduled to be in Boothbay today to talk to employees about the fate of a well-known boatyard that was destroyed by a spectacular fire three days ago. At 7:30 a.m. today, workers met with company officials where they might learn when the shipyard might be re-built.

Fire investigators plan to interview workers at the Washburn & Doughty boatyard to determine the sequence of events leading to the fire, which caused an estimated $30 million in damages.

The Department of Labor's Rapid Response Team will also visit the site to offer assistance to workers and answer questions about what is next.

Friday's fire destroyed the boatyard's 50,000 square-foot building and two tugboats that were under construction. The business is an economic linchpin in the Boothbay area. It has more than 80 direct employees while also employing dozens of subcontractors.

Keep checking news updates through the day, as the Portland Press Herald has a reporter covering the story and will post information here, as it develops.

To catch up with previous reports, CLICK HERE and HERE.

John Patriquin/Staff Photographer
Firefighters are joined by the Coast Guard to help battle the blaze Friday at the Washburn & Doughty shipyard, where two tugboats like the one in the background were being built.