Fire destroys Old Grist Mill Tavern in Seekonk

An 18th-century landmark building is destroyed after a fire in Seekonk. Flames broke out of the Old Grist Mill Tavern Sunday morning. It happened when a tractor trailer truck carrying bananas went out of control and hit a gas main on Fall River Avenue. The crash caused an explosion, which caused the building to set fire.

Jackie Fanion, a resident,  knows the building will never be the same.

“it's a landmark, yeah and it's probably destroyed. Talking to people around here, he may rebuild something new, but it's never going to be the same,” she said.

The accident was loud and dangerous. Gas leaked onto the roadways, crews had to close some of them off, and firefighters had to be pulled out of the building twice when parts of the roof collapsed.

The building was built in 1745 and is now in ruins. The truck driver was taken to the hospital, but is doing okay.