North River Fire District Fights Tricky Boat Fire

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSThe boat was docked on the Manatee River.

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSCrews using foam.

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSThe boat was still giving off smoke and gases.

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSThe boat became to heavy and broke the cables on the lift and landed in the river.

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSSouthern Manatee Fire District Foam Unit.
PALMETTO, FL - On July 7th, the morning after Hurricane Elsa ripped through Manatee County with only minor damage, residents on Riverside Drive awoke to smoke in the air. The origin of the smoke turned out to be from a 32-foot boat on a lift at 1313 Riverside Drive. On arrival firefighters found a well involved boat with 100-gallons of fuel on board. The boat was located on a lift at the end of a long dock. It was a long lay out to the incident. Southern Manatee Fire District was eventually called to the scene with their foam trailer.