A boat fire consumed a 45-foot Hatteras about a half-mile offshore of Key West’s South Roosevelt Boulevard the morning of April 8. Key West Fire Department received the call around 9:45 a.m. and dispatched its fire boat, which began dousing the fire with saltwater. Fire boat crews from the Key West Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also battled the blaze as onlookers lined South Roosevelt Boulevard.
The couple on board escaped uninjured after radioing a mayday call. TowBoatUS responded immediately and rescued the uninjured couple, who were on their way back to the Miami area. Once the fire was extinguished, TowBoatUS brought the couple back to shore and towed the burned 1984 vessel back to its headquarters at Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island.
