SMOKE plumes filled the air after a yacht shockingly exploded at a packed marina. The severely damaged yacht was being refueled at Schooner Island Marina in Wildwood, New Jersey when the fire broke out on Thursday, August 22. The fire was responsible for "forcing one person on board to jump to safety," Fox News' WTXF-TV reported.
There were no serious injuries, but the boat sank to the bottom of the marina, according to the outlet. Witnesses said the fire was the result of an explosion and that the 40-foot yacht was refueling when the fire began, NJ.com reported.
Bystanders attempted to slow the flames as firefighters arrived at the scene. Read More On Boat Fires Wildwood firefighters received the call at 12:40 pm and "had the fire under control" by 1:20 pm, according to WTXF-TV. However, swirling smoke clouds remained visible around 2 pm as police and fire officials responded to the incident, per NJ.
com. Though blocks away, beachgoers could see the smoke and took pictures as it soared through the sky and was pushed by winds. Local police at the scene said the New Jersey State Police are heading the investigation, per the publication.
Most read in The US Sun Patrons watched the scene from afar as the scent of gasoline filled the air. Witness Paul Daiber has been storing his boat at the marina for 25 years. At the time of the fire, he was fishing at the end of the deck opposite from where the affected yacht was moored, the outlet reported.
This was the first time he saw a boat.