By: Daniel Yao
On Saturday, on the foggy lake, a tragic incident occurred as a fire erupted on a 35-foot power boat, leading to the loss of two lives and injuries to three individuals. The Long Beach Fire Department reported that the blaze occurred close to a fueling dock in Alamitos Bay, specifically in the 200 block of Marina Drive.
Sadly, two women in their 60s lost their lives in the incident, while three others, a man and a woman in their 60s, as well as another man, sustained burn-related injuries and were transported to hospitals. Long Beach Fire Capt. Jake Heflin revealed that firefighters swiftly responded to a call about the fire at 5:17 p.m. They promptly dispatched fire engines and marine safety rescue boats to the scene.
Eyewitnesses informed rescue workers that the fire broke out while the pleasure craft was being fueled, though the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The fire generated a massive plume of black smoke visible for miles as firefighters battled the flames both from the ground and the water. Daniel Quinn, who works at the nearby Crab Pot restaurant, recounted hearing a loud explosion that sounded as if something had landed on the roof. He described witnessing a substantial cloud of black smoke rising into the sky.
Firefighters effectively managed to control a significant portion of the fire using water cannons, but they also sought additional support from county firefighting teams to prevent the fire from spreading through wind-driven embers that could reach nearby boats or the fueling dock.
To mitigate potential environmental harm from fuel or oil leaks, damaged portions of the boat were cordoned off with protective barriers. However, during the process of moving the boat to an isolation dock, it began taking on water and is now partially submerged.
Long Beach officials intend to collaborate with a private salvage company to safely remove the boat from the water.
Heflin assured that none of the firefighters sustained injuries during the response. However, he mentioned that they will be offered mental health services if required to help them process any emotional trauma stemming from the incident.