$600K goes up in smoke

SANDUSKY — It's been a week since a fire torched and damaged several boats at a local marina, and its cause still remains "undetermined." Firefighters were called to Son Rise Marina just after 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 7 for two boats that were ablaze. When first responders arrived at the scene, they were met with a thick column of black smoke. An initial 10-minute attack from the pier knocked down the flames and prevented the blaze from spreading to other vessels, according to Sandusky fire Capt. Adam Butler. Crews from all three Sandusky fire stations, as well as Sandusky and Huron fire boats, brought the fire under control at noon. Investigators determined that the fire started on a 36-foot-long Carver before spreading to a 34-foot-long Formula. The latter eventually sank at its berth. Both boats were total losses. At least six other vessels suffered heat and smoke damage. The total monetary loss was $600,000, according to Sandusky fire Chief Mario D'Amico. No injuries were reported. "Sandusky firefighters made a good effort, a good stop. They worked pretty hard. They went non-stop for that hour, making sure there wasn't more property loss," Butler said. Boat fires are hard to extinguish because it is hard for firefighters to get a good angle to attack them, Butler said. The Formula was refloated, and both vessels were removed from the water by a towboat. Once on land, the Carver reignited and had to be extinguished again. "It goes to show how difficult it is to put a boat fire out," Butler said. In addition to firefighters, personnel from Erie County Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources arrived to assess the scene. EMA responded to the scene to assess the fluids that escaped the boats into the water. The vessels did not leak much gasoline or oil into the marina, EMA director Tim Jonovich said. "Those tanks seal up when they go underwater," he said. EMA personnel notified the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the National Response Center. "On waterways, the Coast Guard responds (to) petroleum spills," Jonovich said. After the fire was under control, crews deployed absorbent booms to contain and collect the spilled petroleum. An email to ODNR, seeking comment, had not been returned as of Wednesday evening.