FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A fire erupted on a boat Wednesday morning in Fort Lauderdale, seriously injuring one person, authorities confirmed.
Sky 10 was above the scene near the 2100 block of South Ocean Lane as heavy smoke was coming from the small boat as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.
Firefighters confirmed that they received a report around 9:30 a.m. about a possible boat explosion just north of the Port Everglades Inlet.
“We’re just sitting at the pool and, all of a sudden, we see all this smoke come up, so we look over and we see this boat on fire, which we assumed the motor blew up, and it was a lot,” witness Jeffrey Benet said.
According to first responders, one man was onboard the 30-foot boat named Magica at the time, and he jumped into the water when the explosion occurred.
Firefighters said the victim was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in serious condition. Although he suffered serious burns, he is expected to survive.
The fire comes just days after 11 people, including two children, were injured when an explosion occurred on a boat in Fort Lauderdale.
In that incident, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said 15 people were onboard the 39-foot Sea Ray on Memorial Day when the explosion occurred.
Fire officials said fuel vapors likely caused a flash fire on the boat.
The official causes of both boat explosions, however, remain under investigation.