SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. – Just like that — hundreds of millions of dollars slowly sinking to the bottom of a Sunny Isles Beach marina due to a heavy blaze that occurred early Friday morning.
The flames are now out, but the marina remains littered with debris and thick layers of firefighting foam after a devastating early-morning fire engulfed multiple vessels around 5 a.m. near 400 Sunny Isles Boulevard.
Authorities say what began as a single boat fire quickly turned into a chain reaction, igniting nearby yachts and even a jet ski.
Over 25 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene, where flames and smoke could be seen from surrounding high-rises. Firefighters worked to separate the burning boat to prevent further spread.
In all, they said six large boats and two personal watercrafts were burned.
5 p.m. report:
“This is horrifying. It’s horrifying,” said John O’Leary, who lives in the area.
He rushed to the marina, concerned about his own brand new boat parked nearby.
“We’re about five boats away — too close,” O’Leary said.
Firefighters were able to isolate the initial vessel believed to have sparked the blaze, towing it away in an attempt to prevent further damage.
Yaaquov Kashani, a nearby resident, said he didn’t wait to find out how bad things could get.
“This the reason I pack a couple of stuff and I go out. I took my ID,” Kashani said.
He grabbed his girlfriend and dog before evacuating their apartment, just steps away from the burning marina.
Jennifer Moreno, who lives on the sixth floor of an apartment building overlooking the marina, said she woke up to alarms blaring in the building.
“My neighbors started knock on the door saying ‘no really it’s a fire,”' she said.
Fire crews were seen dousing the boats with water as thick black smoke rose into the air. Several yachts were visibly charred by the time the flames were under control.
A 90-foot yacht damaged in the fire was for sale, according to a yacht broker who told Local 10’s Liane Morejon its owners live in Brazil.
Local 10 also learned that a second boat damaged in the fire belongs to the owner of the Lupo Yacht Club in Sunny Isles Beach.
Residents said fire alarms in the building are common, but this time the danger was real.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.
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