Boat Catches Fire, Drifts Toward Bulkhead In Bay Shore: FD

BAY SHORE, NY — Firefighters extinguished a boat fire Wednesday afternoon after an unoccupied vessel began drifting toward shore near the Bay Shore Marina, according to the Bay Shore Fire Department.

The department responded Oct. 7 to a report of a boat fire at the marina near Nicky's On The Bay.

Firefighters were already responding to another emergency when the call came in and quickly headed to the marina, officials said.

While monitoring the Suffolk County Police Department's command radio, firefighters learned the the vessel was unoccupied and drifting toward South Penataquit Avenue near an area known as "The Point."

Department Chief John Ippolito redirected responding firefighters to the location, where they found smoke coming from the boat's cabin. The vessel was approximately 10 feet from the bulkhead, according to the department.

With assistance from the Suffolk County Police Department's Marine Juliet boat, responders were able to bring the vessel to the bulkhead and secure it, allowing firefighters to board safely.

Once aboard, firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in the boat's engine compartment using a hose line from Bay Shore Fire Department Marine-26, officials said.

The Town of Babylon Public Safety Bay Constables, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, NOAA Police and a mutual aid fireboat from the East Islip Fire Department also responded.

All emergency units cleared the scene and returned to service in less than an hour, the department said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately disclosed.