Accidents of the Week - August 31, 2024
BoatTEST publishes “Accidents of the Week” as a public service for our VIP Subscribers to acquaint them with potential boating dangers and by inference their prevention.
4 Injured in ‘Massive’ New Jersey Boat Fire
8/22/24 – Wildwood Crest, NJ
A massive fire on a boat injured four people in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey.
Fire crews responded to the 5,000 block of Wildwood Crest’s Lake Avenue at around 12:30pm on 22 August, officials said. Black smoke was pouring out of the boat as flames shot into the sky when crews arrived.
A second alarm was called as firefighters battled the blaze, getting control of it by nearly 1:30pm. Four marina employees were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported and the cause of the flames remained under investigation.
Man Drowns in Lake After Saving 5-Year-Old
8/17/24 – Smithville, MO
Loved ones were remembering a man who died after jumping into a Missouri lake to save a 5-year-old boy and another person not wearing a life vest.
David Moore, 66, jumped into Missouri’s Smithville Lake after his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son and another person not wearing a life vest began floating away from a pontoon boat on the afternoon of 17 August. He was not wearing his life jacket, according to local news reports.
Authorities Call for Use of PFDs on Water
After getting the two back to the boat, the current took David Moore away, leading him to drown. His head submerged three times before he was not seen again. “He was able to get the boy back ... but it took Dave farther away and pushed him under. He couldn’t stay up. There was an undercurrent,” family friend Hank Penland said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which found David Moore’s body, urged people to wear life jackets when they were out on the water. All the children involved in the incident survived.
Dog Escapes from Boat Fire, Man Suffers Minor Injuries
8/20/24 – Eureka, CA
Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) responded to a boat fire at around 9am on 20 August, at the Public Marina in Eureka, California.
The Fire Department responded to the area with one ladder truck, three engines, and one Chief Officer. The first unit arrived to find black smoke coming from the boat. They said one occupant had already been pulled from the fire before their arrival. Thankfully, the occupant only had minor injuries, and fire crews quickly went to work extinguishing the fire and treating the injured occupant.
Firefighters Contain Blaze Without Fuel Spill
It was also noted that a dog had jumped from the vessel after the boat caught fire and was unharmed. The dog remained with Fish and Wildlife personnel until EPD animal control took over care.
HBF was able to extinguish the fire in a manner that prevented the boat from sinking or spilling fuel, oil, or other contaminants into the bay.
There were no other injuries. The boat, however, sustained major damage and was considered a total loss with damages estimated at around $20,000. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Deputies Rescue Stranded Boaters as Vessel Takes on Water
8/19/24 – Riverview, FL
Boaters found themselves in distress on 19 August in Hillsborough County, Florida, after their boat began to take on water.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) said the incident ocurred moments before sunset, as deputies rushed to their SAFE boat to help the sinking boaters.
Video taken at the scene showed Hillsborough County deputies on their rescue vessel approaching the boat, which was stranded in the ocean with no power. "How much water is on the boat?" a deputy was heard asking in the video.
HCSO deputies were able to help the boaters onto their rescue vessel and bring them back to Hillsborough’s Williams Park Boat Ramp.
Boat Catches Fire at Lake Ontario Yacht Club
8/22/24 – Rochester, NY
A yacht club boat fire was under investigation by the Irondequoit Fire Department in Rochester, New York.
Light smoke could be seen coming from the area where the boats were, after fire crews said that a 45′ yacht had caught fire. The vessel was unoccupied and no one was reported injured.
The back of the boat appeared to have sustained fire damage, the extent of which remained unclear, while the cause of the fire was under investigation.