2 Rescued from Burning Boat off Briarcliff Manor

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — The Westchester County Police Marine Unit rescued two people Saturday evening who were forced to jump into the Hudson River after their boat caught fire off Briarcliff Manor.

The Marine Unit was on patrol near Sing Sing prison in Ossining at 5:22 p.m. when officers observed black smoke coming from a vessel to their south, police said. Officers aboard the Marine 3 patrol boat located a burning 18-foot powerboat and saw two people jump into the river as they approached.

Neither person was wearing a life preserver. Officers Isai Moreira and Willie Saez were able to pull the two people, a man and woman in their 20s, aboard the police boat.

The Marine 3 officers then utilized the patrol’s boat’s firefighting equipment to battle the growing fire, which started in the vessel’s engine. The county police Marine 2 patrol boat also responded and assisted in extinguishing the blaze.

Firefighters from the Croton Fire Department also responded by boat and assisted at the scene, police said.

The fire-damaged vessel, an 18-foot Bayliner Bowrider, was towed from the scene by Sea Tow.

PHOTO: Westchester County Police Marine Unit/ westchester.gov