The investigation into the July 12 Menemsha fire is nearly complete, and Coast Guard senior officials announced last week that they expect a final report in a matter of weeks from federal and state agencies.

“Unfortunately the investigation is still not done,” Coast Guard Capt. Verne Gifford told a gathering organized by Cong. William Delahunt in Chilmark last Friday afternoon. “We have provided that word to you quite a few times. On a positive side, we’ve interviewed everyone . . . We’ve just received results back of some wiring removed from the intersection of both piers, and we’re reviewing the results from the lab now.”

Also attending the meeting were Chilmark selectman Warren Doty, Chilmark police chief Brian Cioffi, Cape and Islands Rep. Timothy Madden and Menemsha station chief Jason Olsen. Mr. Gifford is Coast Guard commander for sector southeast New England.

He said one of the reasons the investigation has taken longer than the town hoped is the number of agencies involved. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the lead investigating agency, but information must also be shared with the Coast Guard investigation team, state fire marshal and the Chilmark police and fire departments.

The fire, which began in mid-afternoon on a warm and sunny summer day, destroyed the Coast Guard boathouse and adjacent wooden pier that connected to the West Dock in Menemsha harbor. Miraculously no one was injured save a firefighter who suffered a blow to the head from a piece of equipment during cleanup after the fire.

The town installed a new concrete floating dock last month, and Mr. Olsen said the new Coast Guard pier should be completed by May.

“We’re very pleased we didn’t have to wait for end of the investigation to clean up the area,” Mr. Doty said. “The fact that’s done is terrific . . . thank you for that. It looks beautiful now, or cleaned up and normal.”

Town executive secretary Timothy Carroll added his own words of praise. “I commend you guys on the demolition. Everyone cooperated and it worked out very well for Menemsha harbor,” he said.

The Coast Guard is currently leasing slips from the town for their two rescue vessels, a 47-foot and a 25-foot boat. If construction on the new pier goes as planned, Mr. Olsen said the Menemsha station could be receiving a second 47-foot search and rescue vessel in the next fiscal cycle.

“We got the 47-footer back last week and it was a big morale booster for the crew,” Mr. Olsen said of the boat that has been docked on the mainland since the fire. “The community sees our heavy-weather platform is back. We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing and ready for whatever comes at us.”

In a meeting with the Coast Guard in September, the selectmen learned construction on the new boathouse would not begin until next fall at the earliest.

When conversation at last Friday’s meeting turned to the redesign aspect of the boathouse, both Mr. Doty and Mr. Madden expressed concern about the historical nature of the building that was lost.

“When the historical stuff comes into play, anything you can do along those lines for aesthetics historically would be helpful,” Mr. Madden said. “It’s not required but it’s the right thing to do,” he added.

“The historical [commission] will definitely be engaged. They’ll worry about the outside, and [we’ll] work on the inside,” Mr. Olsen said. “The whole great thing about New England is the red roof and white sides.”

Mr. Doty agreed. “Let’s have a building that functions well and does what we need it to do, as compact as it needs to be,” he said. “And has a red roof and white walls.”

Captain Gifford estimated the new boathouse and pier would cost at least $5 million.

Mr. Delahunt’s chief of staff Mark Forrest warned the parties involved about the potential for disconnect between federal and state authorities and the Chilmark community, and he urged the partnership between the Coast Guard and the town to remain close.

“Continue to be engaged and keep the community at the table with the final design stages,” Mr. Forrest said. “Make sure you’re actively engaged and involved with the town to the very end before this thing is even put out to bid.”