JUNE 6, 2015
GREAT SOUTH BAY, LI (WABC)
Three people were rescued from the water after jumping off
their boat that caught fire in Suffolk County on Saturday evening.
Matthew Biagi was operating the boat with two passengers on a trip from Oakdale to Fire Island, when they all noticed smoke coming from their engine compartment. They attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, but the extinguisher did not work. Probably because this was a gasoline fire and they needed a different fire extinguisher.
The three men put on flotation devices, jumped overboard and called 911 just before 7 p.m.
Marine bureau officers Robert Femia and Daniel Smith were the first to reach the floating men. Police identified them as Matthew Biagi, 41, of Forest Hills, Queens; his brother, Joseph Biagi, 40, of Weehawken, New Jersey; and Richard Damaro, 42, of Forest Hills.
Matthew Biagi was operating the boat with two passengers on a trip from Oakdale to Fire Island, when they all noticed smoke coming from their engine compartment. They attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, but the extinguisher did not work. Probably because this was a gasoline fire and they needed a different fire extinguisher.
The three men put on flotation devices, jumped overboard and called 911 just before 7 p.m.
Marine bureau officers Robert Femia and Daniel Smith were the first to reach the floating men. Police identified them as Matthew Biagi, 41, of Forest Hills, Queens; his brother, Joseph Biagi, 40, of Weehawken, New Jersey; and Richard Damaro, 42, of Forest Hills.
Officers brought them to marine bureau headquarters at
Timber Point in Great River. Islip Exchange Ambulance personnel checked the men
for hypothermia but they refused further treatment, police said.
Firefighters from Blue Point and Bayport extinguished the
blaze using fireboats. Police said the burned vessel was transported to Timber
Point for examination by arson investigators.
This is a good idea, as these boaters seem to be of Italian decent,
known for their fraudulent activities.
The fire appears to be at the top of the boat; this does not appear to be an engine
fire. We shall see.