Woman, Dog Escape As Fire Engulfs Sailboat On Alafia River

RIVERVIEW, FL — A woman was able to escape with her dog Thursday morning when her sailboat caught fire on the Alafia River.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the boat caught fire around 3:20 a.m. on the Alafia River behind a home in the 9400 block of Oak Street. When firefighters arrived, the boat was engulfed in flames but the woman had jumped off the boat with her dog, and swam to safety.

Hillsborough County Fire Boat 29 quickly extinguished the fire on the 20-foot sailboat. The boat was a complete loss.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.