Yacht sinks at Marina Del Rey dock after ammunition and fireworks catch on fire
A luxury yacht carrying nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks caught fire shortly before sinking in the Marina del Rey harbor on Wednesday evening. Two people were on board the 100-foot yacht when the fire ignited, but both were able to get off safely.
The U.S. Coast Guard continued environmental cleanup efforts Thursday morning as the yacht bobbed on its side, testing air quality and remediating water contamination from fuel spillage. By Friday morning, 2,000 feet of boom were installed around the area as crews coordinate with the Oil Spill Response Organization to assess the extent of impact and continue to clean up.
At around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, firefighters rushed to the docks at Basin A, where the boat, named "The Admiral," was heavily involved in flames, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Crews tried to fight the fire both by ground and by water, but it proved difficult to contain.
Bystander video showed fireworks shooting off the deck of the boat and bursting overhead, all while firefighters worked to contain the volatile flames. Two hours later, the boat quickly sank below the water line and by 11 p.m. it was nearly fully submerged.
With SkyCal overhead Wednesday evening, large flames could be seen inside of the boat despite a heavy barrage of water being sprayed by crews. Hours after the firefight began, SkyCal returned to the scene where the boat had almost sank entirely under the water in the harbor.
After sinking, crews began a "booming" operation, which was conducted in order to contain the foam that firefighters sprayed and the fuel that leaked during the incident. Heavy equipment was brought in to pull the boat back to the surface, leaving it floating on its side.
Thursday morning, a Coast Guard representative said efforts are concentrated on containing hazardous fuel or other material that may have spilled into the water. Also, air quality is a concern as the boat was filled with 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
"What we do know is that the vessel capacity was 6,000 gallons. We do know that they fueled up with 4,000 gallons of diesel, but we still do not know how much fuel discharged out into the environment and how much remains still in the vessel," Lt. Cmdr. Omar Borges, of the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Air readings so far say that there are no flammable fumes in the air, and the air is not hazardous for locals to breathe, according to the Coast Guard.
The process will take a number of days, monitoring air and water. Officials said there is no evidence yet that any wildlife has been harmed.
It's unclear if the people on the yacht were the owners, but there were no injuries. Officials have not yet confirmed how they will upright the boat and remove it from the harbor.
