Accidents of the Week - February 28, 2026

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Multi-Boat Fire Breaks Out at Virginia Lake Yacht Club

2/16/26 – Moneta, VA

Firefighters were busy responding to a multi-boat fire at Smith Mountain Lake on the morning of 16 February, according to emergency responders.

According to Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire and Rescue (SML), crews were dispatched to a multi-boat fire at the VISA Yacht Club around 9:30 a.m. SML firefighters, along with crews from the Scruggs Fire Department and Franklin County Fire Department, responded to extinguish the flames.

Firefighters said the fire was contained to two boats. The cause of the fire was not released at the time. 
 

Sailboat Erupts in Flames at NYC’s Chelsea Piers

2/16/26 – New York, NY

A sleek sailboat erupted in flames at New York City’s Chelsea Piers in the early hours of 16 February.

Fire erupted at about 2:40 a.m. aboard the docked Sun Odyssey 44, manufactured by the famous firm Jeanneau, whose luxury yachts are frequently seen cavorting around the Mediterranean.

According to the FDNY and footage of the incident posted on YouTube, the fire broke out at West 23rd Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan, near Chelsea’s Pier 63.

The footage showed shooting flames rising from the boat as multiple smoke-eaters hosed it down while steady snow flurries fell. A total of 21 FDNY units with 79 firefighters and EMS workers responded to the scene, extinguishing the blaze by just before 4 a.m., the Fire Department said.

The inside of the vessel was completely burned out by the time the flames were knocked down, the video showed. No one was injured in the blaze, officials said, and the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

 

Boater Rescued from Lake After Going Overboard 

2/16/26 – Avon Park, FL

As he watched from the shore of central Florida’s Lake Letta, Kirk Kepner saw his friend trying out a new jon boat on the morning of 16 February. While his friend turned the boat, the throttle stuck and threw him into the water.

With the boat spinning wildly, Kepner tried to swim out to save his friend, but as he explained later, he had a liver transplant six months ago and wasn’t in shape to swim very far in the cold water.

All his friend wanted to do was to see if everything worked on the boat, Kepner explained. “He was going into the lake a little and then make a turn and then load the boat back onto the trailer. The throttle must have stuck and thrown him out.”

Kepner called 911, while another man who did not want to be identified helped rescue the boater with his board. The Avon Park Fire Department was contacted to provide mutual aid and they responded with their boat, while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was notified by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and also responded to the scene.

First Responders Struggle to Halt Spin

With the boater rescued, the task facing the first responders was to safely stop the spinning jon boat, which took about 15 minutes once the Avon Park Fire Department’s boat was in the water.

Avon Park Fire Chief Andy Marcy explained they first tried with a couple of ropes to snag the boat’s propeller. Then a member of FWC got on the fire department’s boat and used a strap, but couldn’t get it to work to stop the boat. “Then, they just basically used our boat to stop that boat,” Marcy said.

The spinning boat struck the fire department’s boat twice without stopping. The third attempt was successful as they were able to maneuver close enough to be side-by-side and flip the boat over, causing the engine to flood with lake water. 
 

Two Escape Uninjured After Boat Bursts into Flames

2/15/26 – Heath, TX

Fire-Rescue units from Dallas, Texas, responded to reports of a boat fire on the city’s Lake Ray Hubbard.

Dallas Fire-Rescue’s Marine 1 arrived to find a boat engulfed in flames with no one on board. Crews extinguished the fire, but the vessel sustained significant damage, officials said.

According to personnel at the scene, the boat had been operating with two people aboard when they heard a loud noise. The two on board said flames began coming through the floor of the boat. A nearby boater saw the fire and rescued the two occupants.

No injuries were reported. The damaged boat was later docked at Terry Park.
 

Coast Guard Rescues Man After Sailboat Runs Aground 

2/13/26 – Charleston, SC

A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man and his dog on the evening of 13 February, after their sailboat ran aground on rocks near Winyah Bay, South Carolina.

The MH-65 Dolphin crew based out of Air Facility Charleston hoisted the pair from the 37-foot sailing vessel, Chusan, after the man radioed for help around 6:16 p.m. The man and his dog were taken to Georgetown Airport. No injuries were reported.

According to Coast Guard Sector Charleston, watchstanders received the distress call on VHF Channel 16, where the mariner reported that his vessel had struck rocks.

Firefighters Put Out Boat Fire with ‘Rooster Tail’ 

2/15/26 – Madeira Beach, FL

Quick thinking by the Fire Department in Madeira Beach, Florida, put out a boat on fire on 15 February.

Crews responded to a boat on fire along the Intracoastal Waterway and found smoke rising over the water by a nearby home. According to MBFD, a 19-foot boat was fully engulfed in flames, threatening nearby docks, homes, and other boats. Firefighters immediately searched the surrounding area to ensure no victims were in the water or nearby.

“To stop the danger from spreading, Marine 25 secured the burning vessel to prevent drifting. Crews then demonstrated quick thinking and resourcefulness—using a rooster tail from the outboard motor to deliver a rapid, aggressive knockdown,” Madeira Beach Fire Department said in a post on Facebook.

With the help of good Samaritans, suppression efforts continued until the fire was brought under control. All occupants on the boat were accounted for, and no injuries were reported.

 

Boat Overturns During Sailing Lesson, Kids Rescued

2/15/26 – Dunedin, FL

Two children were rescued from the water after their boat overturned during a sailing club instructional class in Dunedin, Florida, on 15 February.

Dunedin Fire Rescue was called out to 49 Marina Plaza, south of the first island, just after 3 p.m. Two children were pulled from the water and taken back to shore, where they were checked over by medical crews.

The sailboat was left adrift, moving north toward the Dunedin Causeway. The following morning, local news received reports of a sailboat washed ashore on North Redington Beach.
 

 

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