In a concerning sequence of events, two boats have gone up in flames this week in Fort Lauderdale, with the latest incident occurring this morning. According to Local 10 News, firefighters responded to a fire near the 2100 block of South Ocean Lane, where heavy smoke was billowing from a small boat as efforts to douse the fire were underway. The cause of today's boat fire remains unclear, and information on potential injuries has not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, just days earlier, an explosion on a 39-foot Sea Ray injured 11 people, including two children, on Memorial Day. The Local 10 News report states that fuel vapors are likely to have caused a flash fire on the boat, which had 15 people onboard at the time of the accident. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission cited the presence of many individuals on the vessel when the explosion occurred.
The latest incident off 1700 South Ocean Boulevard involved a 30-foot boat that exploded with one person on board, "who jumped into the water and swam to shore," Frank Guzman, a spokesman with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, told the Miami Herald. The lone individual was taken to Broward Health Medical Center to receive treatment for burn injuries. After the explosion, the boat washed up on the shore where firefighters from Fort Lauderdale and Broward Sheriff’s Office took action to extinguish the remaining flames.
Frank Guzman noted that paramedics transported the boat's occupant to the hospital following today's explosion. Further updates are expected as investigations proceed and more information becomes available.
