Bath investigates fire that damaged flag at historic Masonic Temple

A fire that scorched the American flag outside Bath’s historic Masonic Temple sent investigators to 958 Washington St. on Tuesday morning and raised immediate concerns about public safety at a landmark in the city’s downtown core.

Bath Fire and Rescue was dispatched at about 10:13 a.m. after reports of a fire at the building. When crews arrived, the large flag, measured at roughly 6 feet by 10 feet and draped across the main entrance, had already burned out. The structure itself appeared to have only minor damage.

The cause remains under investigation by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, Bath police and Bath fire officials. Investigators still need to determine when the flame started, how long it burned and whether the fire was accidental, careless or intentionally set. Officials have not said whether they believe the flag burning was deliberate.

Even with limited structural damage, the fire drew attention because it involved a prominent downtown building and a highly visible symbol on a historic property. The flag sat at the front entrance of the Masonic Temple, making the incident more than a routine call for firefighters. It also raised questions about security and repairs at a building that anchors a well-traveled stretch of Bath’s historic district.

The Masonic Temple has long been part of the city center. Bath historical material says the Masons moved there in 1926 from the Masonic Hall in the Ledyard Block, adding to the building’s place in the civic life of downtown Bath. City history materials describe downtown as the heart of the City of Ships, a reminder of why even a brief blaze at 958 Washington St. can resonate well beyond one block.

The case also comes as Maine fire investigators continue to handle serious fire investigations in Bath and the surrounding region. In 2023, a Bath resident was sentenced to 25 years in prison after admitting to setting a fire at an elementary school. Against that backdrop, officials are treating even a quickly extinguished blaze at the Masonic Temple as a matter that deserves a full accounting.