The boat directly in front of me,
across the dock,
about 20' away,
caught fire today!
Prodigal sits directly behind this boat. (Prodigal with shades)
_____________________________
TIMELINE
A BIG squall blew through about 2pm bringing lots of lightning and incredible thunder. I went up to the cockpit to read my book and watch the storm... Closer and louder the storm blew, when suddenly a massive Crack of Thunder seemed to hit before the lightning and it was right on top of me. I put my book down - heart pounding - and looked around. Wow! That was loud. Then I noticed some marina guys out in front of my boat. I got down and saw the smoke....
At 2:36:13pm I see Carl and Kenny from the marina studying Salty Lady. I climbed down off Prodigal to see smoke starting to creep out of the eaves. Carl started yelling for crew to clear the Dock...
"Get everybody off all these boats
and off C dock - NOW!"
At 2:37:40pm very heavy smoke started billowing out the top
2:37:52pm FIRE bursts out and I 'go to the end of the dock' as instructed.
2:38:42 The marina staff use dock water hoses to spray surrounding boats
2:41:17 The Fire Dept arrives and start hooking up hoses and fighting the fire.
*the marina staff untie and move the ship immediately beside the burning boat.
2:41:38 Fire!
2:44:27 Fire Fighting
2:49:57 The Fire is under control. (see water shooting up and out of boat)
2:57:41 The fire is out.
2:58:44 checking smoldering mounds of stuff
3:03pm
The Public Information Officer Brenda visits with the Captain.
Fire Inspector
The Fire Inspector and the Captain discuss things
A 57' Bayliner fiberglass boat ruined. $500,000 burned to trash. Another neighbor two boats over said the power surge blew out all his electrics, both his 110 volt AC and his 12 volt DC. I did not suffer any damage. But it smells like an old wet sock that's been burned and left out to stink. (when i was a kid we rode our bicycles out to the city dump. It's THAT smell. Moldy, rotten, burnt plastic and a smoldering ash stink.) My hope and prayer is that they will tow off the burned hulk tomorrow!
A huge thanks to the marina staff for quick action and heroic efforts, and to the Firemen & Firewomen who saved all the boats.
Wow what an afternoon. I'm wiped out. -Skip
______________________
*next day - today, Friday
before
______________________
But wait, there's more... Today, Friday a crew from the city is out to repair the water line for the Fire Dept. It seems that yesterday during the boat fire and 'All Hell's broke loose Fire Drill' around here, they burst a water line. *but enough water got down the line to put the fire out!
finally, today a group of Fireperson Trainees was on property for some training. How appropriate. Thanks again Firefolk!
