On Friday morning at 0940 hours, Stations 5, 1, 2, 7, Truck 1, Truck 7, Boat 5, Companies 59 and 19 were alerted to Cather Marine on Palmer Road for a boat on fire at a marina. Boat 6 and Charles Boat 6 were also added to the assignment. Units responded and were advised that a boat was on fire in the water at the marina with a burn patient.
Chief 5 arrived on the scene and located a boat on the shore fully involved and established the command. The boat had been pushed away from the docks at the marina by staff. Engine 52 laid a supply line from Palmer Road and the crew pulled a 400' attack line to the boat. Engine 51 picked up Engine 52's line and the crew assisted at the scene. Once Engine 52 got a knock on the fire, the assignment was held with Company 5 and Engine 14.
Ambulance 598 proceeded to the marina to evaluate the patient. They requested a helicopter to fly the patient to the burn center. The patient was flown by Trooper 7 to Washington Hospital Center. Engine 14 handled the landing site in an open field on Palmer Road. Crews from Engine 52 utilized foam to assist with extinguishing the fire and pulled the boat further on shore.
The hull of the boat remained and no fuel or other fluids spilled into the water. Once the fire was extinguished the boat was turned back over to the marina for removal from the water. The Fire Marshal's Office was notified to report the burn victim. The fire was caused from fuel in the bilge igniting when the engine was being started and causing an explosion. Units returned to quarters within two hours.
