Clearwater, FL – Crews from Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department and supporting agencies responded to a fire aboard a 50ft yacht anchored in Clearwater Harbor on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at approximately 4:52 a.m. The yacht was located just west of the Coachman Park waterfront and north of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.
The initial report came from a caller at Coachman Park, who noticed smoke emanating from the vessel. A nearby Good Samaritan in a boat assisted in evacuating the yacht’s two occupants, transporting them to the marina for medical evaluation.
Firefighting efforts were hampered by ongoing issues with the fire pumps on Fire Boat 60 and Fire Boat 66. Once the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) received a navigation waiver to leave the channel, they directed water onto the burning yacht. However, despite these efforts, the fire ultimately consumed the vessel.
The yacht’s owners reported that approximately 200 gallons of diesel fuel were on board. Following the fire, the USCG departed to assemble crews to mitigate the diesel’s environmental impact and manage the damaged vessel.
Video from City of Clearwater camera at Coachman Park. Will show once video rendered by youtube.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Fire Boat 71 from Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue arrived to make a final attempt to extinguish the blaze, allowing containment operations to begin.
As of 10 a.m., hot spots were still being addressed.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.