Boat Catches Fire, Sinks in Gull Pond

A boat was caught on fire and sank in Gull Pond in Greenport on Saturday night, according to Southold Town Police.

Members of the Greenport and Shelter Island Fire Departments as well as Southold Police and the Suffolk County police Arson Squad responded to the pond on a report of a boat fire at 9:41 p.m., police said.

The Catherine Ann, a 42-foot Silverton with diesel engines, owned by Robert Ainbinder, 61, of Northport, caught fire shortly after 9 p.m., police said.

The boat was fully engulfed before the first units arrived and the intense heat ignited a second boat, a 22-foot Proline owned by Andrew Monaco, 62, of Kings Park, which was tied off on the same dock, according to police.

As a result of the fire, the Catherine Ann sank and is now resting on the bottom, according to police.

A significant amount of diesel fuel was spilled into the waterway, police said.

Coast Guard officers responded and a spill team from Miller Environmental was dispatched to the scene for oil containment and clean up, according to police.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

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