Early Morning Fire Destroys 3 Boats At Marina In Edgewater
EDGEWATER, Md. (WJZ) -- An early morning fire destroys several expensive boats in Anne Arundel County. Flames broke out in a marina in Edgewater just after 5 a.m. Thursday morning.
Linh Bui talked to an Annapolis couple, whose boat is a complete loss.
By the time fire crews got to the marina, three large pleasure boats were already engulfed in flames.
Crews battle the flames overnight. Leaked fuel, still burning after the sun rose.
"We got dressed immediately and rushed down here. And I couldn't believe what we saw. I just couldn't believe it," said David Frye, fire destroyed boat.
David and Marjorie Frye were shocked when they heard the news. Their boat, "Hundred Proof," was gone.
"We've owned it for 28 years, and it's been part of our family," David Frye said.
So many memories on the water with their kids and grandchildren.
"We were at Ocean City every weekend because we had the boat. And that was nice," said David Frye.
But it all went up in smoke.
"The calls came from the bridge as they were heading into the Annapolis area. Reported seeing boats on fire in this marina," said Lt. Keith Hamilton, Anne Arundel County Fire Department.
The fire destroyed three boats, and burned some of the pier at Oak Grove Marine Center. Investigators still don't know how it started.
There are dozens of boats docked at the pier. But luckily, crews got the flames under control quickly, and kept that fire from spreading and causing more damage.
Boaters have seen it happen before.
"Just a small, smoldering fire that turns into a blazing inferno basically instantly," said Christian Graf, Carefree Boat Club.
But when it happens to you:
"You prepare for it, you think. But like any other tragedy, you're never prepared," said David Frye.
And with one last look, they put their boating days behind them. The Fryes won't replace "Hundred Proof."
No injuries were reported. Although the Fryes lost their boat, they say they're glad everyone is okay.
In addition to fire crews from Anne Arundel County and Annapolis, the Maryland Department of the Environment came out to contain the fuel spill.
