MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Massive fire destroys 14 boats at Seattle storage facility

Jul 5, 2013, 4:15 AM | Updated: 1:00 pm

A fire Thursday night destroyed 14 boats at a storage facility on Northlake Way in Seattle on Lake ...

A fire Thursday night destroyed 14 boats at a storage facility on Northlake Way in Seattle on Lake Union. (Alec Watson photo)

(Alec Watson photo)

Smoke from a massive Lake Union boatyard fire is seen from I-5 in Seattle Thursday night. (Erynn Rose/KIRO Radio photo) A fire believed set by fireworks destroyed 14 boats and damaged several others Thursday night. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million. A fire believed set by fireworks destroyed 14 boats and damaged several others Thursday night. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million. A fire believed set by fireworks destroyed 14 boats and damaged several others Thursday night. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million. A passerby takes a photo, Friday, July 5, 2013 of some of the 14 boats that were damaged in a late-night fire Thursday at the Lake Union Skylaunch Marina. Seattle fire investigators are blaming illegal fireworks for the blaze. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Two people walk Friday, July 5, 2013 near some of the 14 boats that were damaged in a late-night fire Thursday at the Lake Union Skylaunch Marina. Seattle fire investigators are blaming illegal fireworks for the blaze. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Illegal fireworks are being blamed for a massive fire that destroyed 14 boats and damaged several others at a boat storage facility on the north shore of Lake Union.

Firefighters found 14 boats engulfed in flames when they arrived at the fire at Lake Union Skylaunch Marina shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday.

“This spread quickly but with heroic effort of Seattle Boat Company staff, we have prevented a much worse potential circumstance,” said Alan Bohling, CEO, Seattle Boat Company. “We are thankful for an outstanding team who reacted professionally and quickly in this extraordinary circumstance.”

There were no reports of injuries. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million.

Authorities say the fire was under control in about 10 minutes. The cause is under investigation, but Bohling said in a news release that “we believe that an errant firework from the hillside above landed inside a Skylaunch vessel.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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