A 42-foot pleasure boat named “Luv-It” caught fire and sank at a fuel dock at the Schooner Island Marina on Thursday, Aug. 22.
Before the fire was under control it had spread to the dock and a small shed. The blaze resulted in a large plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles.
One report had the Coast Guard saying all personnel from the boat were accounted for. Four marina employees were evaluated for smoke inhalation, but all declined to be transported to the hospital.
According to a Wildwood Fire Department press release issued by Chief Daniel Dunn, the boat sank at the dock due to the large amount of water used to extinguish the fire. In addition, foam was used to extinguish a fuel fire on the surface of the water.
Firefighters had the blaze under control in about 40 minutes.
The fire was called in at 12:39 p.m. at the fuel dock at the marina, located at 5100 Lake Road. Fire crews from Wildwood, North Wildwood and Erma were dispatched. When firefighters arrived, they found the boat moored to the dock and fully involved with fire.
According to the press release, the fire was upgraded to a full alarm, bringing additional resources from Wildwood Crest, Rio Grande and Stone Harbor. Fireboats responded from North Wildwood and Stone Harbor.
A second alarm was transmitted to bring additional manpower to rotate firefighting crews. Responding were the Villas Volunteer Fire Company, the Middle Township Ambulance Corps, Wildwood Police Department, Lower Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau, Coast Guard and Sea Tow-Cape May.
Fire officials cleared the scene after about three and a half hours. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
