PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Multiple fire departments responded to a large boat fire near Peanut Island on Tuesday night, including Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
A Palm Beach County spokesperson confirmed their units responded to the area per an aid agreement. Also on the scene were the U.S. Coast Guard, Palm Beach Fire Department, Palm Beach Shores Fire Department's volunteers, the Riviera Beach Fire Department, as well as the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
The Coast Guard said the boat was a derelict vessel that was unoccupied.
Two witnesses described to WPTV reporter Joel Lopez what they saw.
Gene Echols, who lives on his boat between Peanut Island and Safe Harbor Rybovich, said he was on his couch watching television when he heard a big explosion and then saw the fire.
"I haven't seen a lot except a lot of smoke, a lot of flame," Echols said. "I talked to a buddy who lives out there he said that one guy got slightly burned. That's all we know. It's gonna burn itself out. It was sitting out there on the sand bar. It's low tide and that fiberglass once it catches it just goes. It's still burning.
David Davis, who also lives in the area, said he saw the fire while drinking beer at Castaways.
He said a boat caught fire, burned through anchor rope then drifted and caught another one on fire.
"I ran down to the end of the dock and there was a boat on fire, there was the fire department getting on sheriff's boats running out there," Davis said. "There's a lot moored up at Peanut Island. This isn't the first time a boat has caught."
Peanut Island is under the jurisdiction of Riviera Beach, but Phil Foster Park is nearby and is part of the county.
Scott McCranels submitted the video to WPTV.
The Coat Guard said the fire was extinguished and the vessel was aground with an anchor deployed. There was no report of pollution.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
