It was a chaotic overnight Sunday into Monday morning in Norfolk when three boats caught fire at Little Creek Marina.
Norfolk Fire-Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard Station Little Creek responded to fight the fire. USCG says seven people were aboard the affected boats, but all made it safely off the boats.
While battling the flames, one of the three boats broke free and sank in the shipping channel. For a few hours on Monday morning, the Coast Guard put a 500-yard safety zone in place that prevented all commercial traffic from passing through. The safety zone was lifted by mid-morning.
The marina basin is directly across from the U.S. Navy Amphibious Landing.
Coast Guard spokesperson Kimberly Reaves says USCG has deployed booms and sorbent material in the water to mitigate the risk of environmental damage to Little Creek and the Chesapeake Bay beyond.
Little Creek Marina caters to sailors, fishermen, and transient boaters. It has more than 120 deep-water slips with floating piers and recently changed ownership. It is managed by Coastal Properties, who operate multiple Chesapeake Bay marinas, including Piney Narrows Yacht Haven on Kent Narrows and Bowleys Marina in Middle River.
The Little Creek Marina fire is under investigation and the cause hasn’t yet been released.
-Meg Walburn Viviano
