Community members have raised thousands in donations to support Portland’s waterfront workers after businesses were destroyed in a fire on Friday at Custom House Wharf.

The fire also destroyed crucial fishing gear, like lobster traps, nets and haulers, owned by fishermen. Some lost a lifetime worth of equipment, said Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.

The Brunswick-based association started a fundraiser for fishermen who lost gear and had raised $18,000 by Monday morning, Martens said.

“There’s just been an amazing outpouring of support from the broader community to give and support the fishermen,” Martens said. “It’s a bright spot through these dark times, how quickly a community comes together and supports those that experience a loss like this.”

He said the association, a nonprofit that supports Maine’s fisheries industry, is still working to determine the extent of the damage to the fishing community.

The fire destroyed Nanuq Kayaks, Maritime Antiques, the Sea Bags Factory Store and a repair shop, as well as buildings used by fishermen as workshops for maintenance and storage.

“A lot of these fishermen, they’ve been fishing from this wharf for their entire careers,” Martens said. “Some of what has been lost is not of monetary value. It is the place that they go to do their work, it’s a place that they go to have community.”

The Office of State Fire Marshal determined there was no foul play involved, but the extent of the damage may make it hard to identify what caused the fire, according to the agency. Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said the investigation is ongoing.

Investigators obtained security footage, which shows “no reason to suspect anyone being in the building shortly before the fire,” Moss said in an emailed statement Monday.

Stephen Goodrich, a co-owner of the wharf, said he was “expecting the worst” when driving into Portland on Friday night and seeing the plume of dark smoke. He said he was surprised the next day to see the fire had stayed confined to one area of the wharf and is grateful for the firefighters who got the fire under control in less than two hours.

“We’re hoping we won’t need as much help as we thought we might have at first,” Goodrich said.

John Jabar, also a co-owner of the wharf, said he appreciates people in the community who have reached out to offer help.

“The fishing community in Maine, and specifically Casco Bay, is one of the most unique, loyal groups that I have ever known in my entire life,” Jabar said. “What I’ve seen from the support is not different than what I’ve seen in the past, but it’s unbelievable.”