NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A $350,000 boat was destroyed by fire late Sunday at 100 Lincoln Avenue, the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department reported.
Firefighters were dispatched at 8:23 p.m. and arrived within four minutes. The large craft was suspended on a boatlift upon fire departments arrival with the fire visible in the rear area of the fiberglass boat, owned by Steve Dougherty.
"Crews tried to contain the fire to the rear of the boat however were unable to and the fire spread throughout the entire vessel," Fire Lt. Randy Wright wrote in his report. "A significant portion of the fire was located between the deck and the hull. The vessel contained approximately 80 gallons of fuel within its 400 gallon capacity fuel cell."
Fire crews stretched two hand lines and began to extinguish visible fire. The boat was lowered into the water to make it more accessible to fire crews. Most of the fire was burning in a void space under the deck of the boat and the hull. Floatation material and other obstacles in this space made extinguishment difficult, Wright said.
Crews stretched hazardous material booms around the boat to prevent any leakage of contaminates. No detection of any fuel/oil leaks from the vessel had occurred the booms were precautionary.
The fire may have been sparked by a battery charger system, fire officials said. It is under investigation by the city and state Fire Marshal offices.