Thick, acrid black smoke is once again covering the skies over New Rochelle as another boat burns. The second this week. New Rochelle Fire Department and Pelham Manor Fire Department are responding to fire in the parking lot at Travers Island Marina at the New York Athletic Club on Shore Road. The boat is a 60-footer.
UPDATE: The initial call came in around noon.
“The fire was totally involved when we got here,” said New Rochelle Fire Chief Louis M. DiMeglio. “We had trouble getting people above the fire.”
DiMeglio said the boat was a 61-foot Hatteras Motor Yacht.
17 firefighters from the New Rochelle Fire Department were on the scene along with a half-dozen Pelham Manor firefighters.
Asked about the cause, DiMeglio said “We won’t know the cause and origin until we get the fire out and get our investigator on there to check out.”
According to DiMeglio, the owner of the boat received burns to his ears and was taken to the hospital.
Liveblogging the NRFD and NRPD Scanner Traffic & Live Reports from EyeonNewRoc at the scene:
12:15 p.m. – New Rochelle vehicles on scene include Engine 21, Engine 23, Engine 24 Rescue 4, Ladder 11, Ladder 12 and Pelham/Pelham Manor Fire Department vehicles Engine 1 and Engine 3 and a Ladder truck. Two New Rochelle Harbor units and U.S. Coast Guard unit is on the scene. There are helicopters over the scene.
12:22 p.m.- Multiple lines are stretched.
12:27 p.m. – New Rochelle Police have closed off the area to all traffic at Weyman Avenue and Pelham Road and down to Pelham and Pelhamdale/City Island. Basically all of Shore Road is closed from Weyman to the Bronx line.
12:37 p.m. – Reports of injuries, possibly the owner of the boat. Ambulances have been called.
12:41 p.m. – New Rochelle dispatcher asked whether fire is in New Rochelle or Pelham jurisdiction, New Rochelle fire fighter on scene says “it’s ours”
12:45 p.m. – Smoke is now white, indicating that fire may be under control.
1:09 p.m. – Nope. Fire is not under control, NRFD just reported that there are 4 lines extended, that they are unable to gain entry to the vessel, that all hands are fully engaged.
1:12 p.m. – NRFD now warning of a prolonged operation, requesting mutual aid “1 and 1” (meaning one engine and one ladder), likely from Mount Vernon or Yonkers.
1:28 p.m. – Yonkers Fire Department Engine and Ladder 7 now in New Rochelle.
5:30 p.m. – Firefighters leaving the scene. Boat is a total loss. Chief DeMeglio says given the condition of the boat (badly damaged, full of water) and that is up on stanchions in dry dock, it will be difficult to get investigators on the boat any time soon.
Photo Credit: James O’Toole, John Karl
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