May 25, 2010

Fire damages newly bought cabin cruiser moored on river

By Liz King Staff Writer

SALISBURY — A 53-foot cabin cruiser moored in the middle of the river between Rings Island Marina and the Salisbury Town Pier caught fire yesterday morning after the owner of the boat left the generator running, Salisbury fire Chief Richard Souliotis said.

"They had just bought the boat and got it to Newburyport last night," he said. "I believe they were trying to charge the battery."

Salisbury Harbormaster Ray Pike said he believes heat from the generator caused oil-absorbed rags underneath it to catch fire.

Derek Seehagen, second class boatswain's mate of the Coast Guard in Newburyport, said the 53-foot cabin cruiser was moored on a mooring ball off Rings Island Marina, when a Good Samaritan noticed smoke coming from the boat and called the Coast Guard at 9:19 a.m.

"The cabin was filled with smoke," Pike said.

Seehagen said the Coast Guard launched two boats to investigate.

The fire department received a call from the Coast Guard and was shuttled out by the Salisbury harbor patrol, Salisbury fire Capt. John Condelli said.

On scene with the Coast Guard and Salisbury Fire Department was Mike Goodrich of Towboat US, the Salisbury and Newburyport harbormasters, and the Newburyport Fire Department, Seehagen said.

"This was a joint agency search-and-rescue case," Seehagen said. "Hats off to all agencies involved."

"Everyone responded pretty quickly," Pike said. "The boaters were there right away — they live on the shore and could see it from their house."

The boat is owned by Randy Hitchcock of 12 1st St. on Rings Island. A listed phone number for Hitchcock was not in service.

Pike said there wasn't a lot of damage to the boat — mostly smoke damage, along with a broken window and damage to the generator. A hazardous materials crew was called to the scene, but Pike said the water would clean up easily.

"Fortunately, the boat was saved, and damage was minimized," Pike said.

Goodrich was going to tow the boat to Cove Marina, where it would be looked at, Seehagen said. The incident is still under investigation, Condelli said.