Huge fire rips through multiple boats in marina as smoke billows across city

31 January 2024 , 14:47

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Boats were spotted on fire at Anchorage Marina in Baltimore

Multiple boats are on fire as a blaze rips through the Anchorage Marina in Baltimore.

First responders from Baltimore City Fire Department are currently tackling the blaze "by land and sea", according to fireboat operator Andrew Doyle on X. Two boats are believed to be affected by the fire and one is reported to have submerged - but there have been "no reports of any injuries on civilians or firefighters", Baltimore City Fire Department spokesperson Kevin Cartwright told the Mirror.

Boat owner Joe Meyerhoff's vessel is located two boat slips down from where the fire began. Meyerhoff said the neighbouring boat's owner successfully escaped with his dog, and explained that many of the boats in the marina had been 'winterized' with shrink wrap around the body, which protects them while they aren't being used. “We’re just all very fortunate,” he said according to the Baltimore Banner, adding that shrink wrap is highly flammable.

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The blaze is being tackled by multiple Baltimore agencies

The plume of black smoke emerging from the blaze - which appeared to engulf multiple boats - could reportedly be seen from downtown in Baltimore. Cartwright added that "firefighters are currently battling to extinguish the fires as we speak". Multiple units, including the BCFD Hazmat Team, BCFD Dive Rescue Team and Maryland Department of the Environment, have all been called out to assist with the fire.

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Cartwright's statement to the Mirror said: "Currently on location in the 2500 block of Boston St., Southeast Baltimore, the Anchorage Marina we currently have multiple vessels on fire firefighters are currently battling to extinguish the fires as we speak. There’s been no reports of any injuries on civilians or firefighters.

"Damage at present, one vehicle, one vessel has been completely extinguished and a second vessel continues to burn, and we have established a circumference surrounding these vessels to completely get them extinguished. At this moment, it’s been known preliminary cause into this fire." The Anchorage Marina in southeast Baltimore stores hundreds of boats, with 557 'slips' - or parking spaces.

According to WJZ CBS Baltimore reporter Dennis Valera, the fire "started at one and spread to another that was shrink wrapped". Baltimore photojournalist Kaitlin Newman posted a video of firefighters battling the flames, with a caption reading: "Firefighters work to put out a fire that engulfed two boats at the Anchorage Marina in Canton off of Boston Street this morning. They are currently still battling the flames."

Alex Croft