Authorities investigate boat fire off Pompano Beach marina

Man, woman on boat escape

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Authorities are trying to determine what sparked a boat fire off the Pompano Beach marina Sunday afternoon.

The 36-foot vessel suddenly caught fire just a mile from the Hillsboro inlet, near 2315 NE 15th St.

"It looked like a volcano on the water," boater Bruno Berti told Local 10 News.

Berti said he raced to help the man and woman on board, but they had already gotten off the boat and were helped by another boater. They were not injured.

Beachgoers reported seeing smoke in the water.

Local 10 News received reports that the smoke could be seen all the way from Port Everglades.