$1.5 million yacht charred after fire erupts at SWFL marina
It was a bad day for one boat owner in SWFL, after stunning video captured his $1.5 million yacht burning up in flames.
The fire broke out Monday afternoon at the Isle of Capri Marina near Marco Island.
The Sea Tow captain who was first on the scene says he tried to save the yacht, but by the time he arrived, it was far too late.
Smoke could be seen for miles as the 68-foot boat burned.
“We could see smoke off in the distance,” said onlooker Tammy Wilson.
Mercier, the Sea Tow captain, said the boat was entirely engulfed in flames. He raced to try to save other boats nearby.
“I was able to pull one boat out of here. The flames were blowing all the way to the east. And I couldn’t get close to the other two,” Mercier said.
After the flames were extinguished, two boats were deemed a total loss, including the charred yacht, which was still docked at the marina.
But many were thankful the bad situation didn’t get any worse.
“It’s disturbing. And I’m just glad nobody got hurt,” Wilson said.
The manager of the marina said the boat’s owner doesn’t live in the area. He added that it could take weeks for the boat to be removed.
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Yacht, two boats catch fire at Isles of Capri Marina
Patrick Riley, patrick.riley@naplesnews.com
June 4, 2018
(Photo: Ann-Marie Salvaggio/Special to the Daily News)
A 69-foot yacht moored at the Isles of Capri Marina, north of Marco Island, caught fire Monday with flames spreading to two smaller boats, authorities said.
Crews from the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District and Marco Island Fire-Rescue Department responded to the blaze at 12:13 p.m., said Nolan Sapp, assistant chief for Greater Naples.
"They've got it knocked down, but they're still doing fire attack," he said early Monday afternoon.
The fire appears to have sparked on the large yacht and spread from there to two smaller cabin cruisers, 28 feet long and 30 feet long, Sapp said.
"They were moored next to the big one," he said.
No one was hurt in the blaze, and the cause of the fire is not yet known. Greater Naples Fire officials are investigating the fire, Sapp said. Depending on their findings, the state fire marshal may investigate, he said.
Sapp said two of the three boats, including the large yacht, are a total loss. He estimated the total damage to be close to $1 million.
Using booms to create a barrier around the boats, a private contractor worked to keep fuel contained to the area, Sapp said.
"We don't want the fuel to contaminate the bay area," he said.