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The owner of a boat anchored just offshore in Turkey Point was able to prevent fire damage to other vessels by navigating his craft away from the dock before abandoning it and swimming to shore, officials say.
Norfolk County firefighters and the Port Dover Coast Guard responded to the fire on a 33-foot powered boat at about 8 a.m. Tuesday but were unable to do much due to the fact is was anchored about 150 feet off-shore.
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“Eventually the fire diminished enough that the Coast Guard was able to complete firefighting operations,” Norfolk Fire official Cory Armstrong-Smith said in a statement.
He said the fire appears to have started while the boat was in the dock area as a result of a mechanical malfunction and no injuries were reported. Turkey Point is a Lake Erie beach community located about a 90-minute drive southeast of London.
“According to the boat’s owner . . . he quickly moved the board away from the dock and other moored vessels, Armstrong-Smith said. “Once the boat was safely away from exposures, he anchored and swam to safety.”
The loss is estimated at $100,000 but the owner is insured, Armstrong-Smith said.
Fire Prevention Week tips
London Fire Department officials are offering safety advice to mark Fire Prevention Week.
On social media, they addressed charging electronic devices such as cellphones. It’s crucial to never charge them while they’re on your bed.
“Always charge electronics on a hard surface,” officials wrote. “Charging them on a hard surface (like a) bed/under pillow/sofa could cause the battery to overheat and cause a fire.”
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