Countless boaters around the Bay spent the day before the Fourth of July cleaning their boats—after outings during the holiday weekend or in preparation for an Independence Day cruise.
But one boat owner in Havre de Grace never expected what unfolded during his afternoon cleaning on Monday. His boat suffered a fire on board that quickly spread to neighboring boats and the dock. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
The Susquehanna Hose Company, a volunteer fire company that serves Havre de Grace on the upper Bay, responded to fight the fire when it broke out around 4:20 p.m. at the City Yacht Basin in downtown Havre de Grace.
The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, which is investigating the fire, says the boat where the fire started was a 1988 32′ Bayliner Avanti. The fire marshal says the owner was on board and cleaning when flames broke out in the cabin. He and others reportedly used fire extinguishers and hoses to try to put the fire out, but it burned out of control.
The fire then spread to another powerboat on its port side, a 1994 Tiara 3100. The boat on the starboard side, a Sea Ray 290 Amberjack, suffered minor heat-related damage, the fire marshal says.
It took 35 firefighters one hour to get the fire under control and there were no reported injuries. The Bayliner was a total loss.
In all, the fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the boats and pier.
The Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), Harford County Special Operations Hazmat Team, Natural Resource Police, and U.S. Coast Guardall responded and helped because of environmental concerns.
The fire marshal’s office is not releasing a preliminary cause yet, as they continue to investigate.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
