Yacht catches fire behind Bahia Mar resort

2 people rescued after flames spread to nearby boat

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Authorities are investigating a fire that torched an 80-foot yacht behind the Bahia Mar resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach overnight.

Firefighters said the flames quickly spread to a nearby 125-foot boat on Seabreeze Boulevard, where two people inside had to be rescued.

"It was a difficult fire to get to, because there was approximately over 200 feet of dock between where we parked the engine and to where the vessel where the fire started was at," Fort Lauderdale Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Heiser said. "They had to lay several feet of hose before they could attack it from land.  That's why it was very fortunate that we had the fire boat deployed immediately."

Heiser said a Bahia Mar employee spotted the blaze and called 911.

A firefighter was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.