Newburgh Couple Jumps Into Bay When Boat Catches Fire Off Long Island

NEWBURGH, NY — A couple from Newburgh jumped into the Great South Bay off Long Island with their two dogs when their boat caught fire Tuesday evening, police said. The couple, a 41-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman from Newburgh, were leaving from Barrett Beach, just east of Fire Island Pines, when their 30-foot boat started heating up about 5:30 p.m., according to Suffolk Police.

The couple had life jackets on and they put a life jacket onto their two dogs before jumping into the water. [Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts here.]

They were in the water for about 10 to 15 minutes before a 70-year-old Lindenhurst man saw them and brought them onto his 38-foot Tiara boat, police said. No injuries were reported.

Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers Dale Kelly and Chris Schnoor responded to the scene aboard Marine Kilo and attempted to extinguish the fire. Officers Rob Reed and Andy Diviney of Marine Bureau boat Marine Juliet assisted. The officers had put out most of the fire when members of the Sayville and Hagerman fire departments arrived. The boat eventually sank.

Written By Ryan Bonner (Patch National Staff)

Photo via Twitter/@chrisgogarty