July 27, 2012

4:26 PM

This morning at 11:42 am Portland Fire & Rescue Responded to reports of an explosion and a boat on fire in the North Portland Harbor at the Jantzen Beach Gas Dock. The fire boat from Portland Fire's Hayden Island Fire Station 17 arrived to find an 18' boat fully engulfed in flames. There were three people on the boat at the time of the incident.

The passengers on the boat stated that they had just finished fueling and had started the boat to pull away from the dock when the explosion and subsequent fire occurred. The boaters stated that the explosion blew the engine's cowling (cover) approximately 30' into the air. All of the occupants jumped from the boat and swam safely back to the dock.

The fire boat quickly extinguished the fire and towed the boat to the 42nd Street boat ramp that is located off of Marine Drive. The boat was then loaded onto a trailer and pulled from the river. Fire Investigators are working to determine the fire's cause. No one was injured in either the explosion or subsequent fire. The boat will be a total loss.

Portland Fire & Rescue reminds boat owners to conduct routine inspections and maintenance of boats for safety. The public is also reminded to wear personal floatation devices while boating.