Huge fire engulfs marina in La Conner
Feb 21, 2014, 6:22 PM | Updated: Feb 22, 2014, 11:05 am
The J Dock is completely gone and boats can be seen, along with booms, in the water. Photo by La Conner resident Tony Miner, whose boat, the Starfire, was not damaged.
Seven boats were destroyed and at least eight more damaged in a fast moving fire that ripped through the Shelter Bay Marina in La Conner Friday afternoon.
Dave Franklin, the manager of Shelter Bay Marina, says the fire started on one boat, which floated away and bumped into a few other boats. Those boats quickly caught fire around 4:30 p.m.
The Swinomish Yacht Club reported via Twitter some good Samaritans rushed to the scene to try and move boats out of harm’s way as the flames spread.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports six boats moored at J-Dock sank and early estimates put damage at more than $1 million.
Franklin said one dock was destroyed.
Fire crews battled the blazes from the shore and by boat. The Herald reports the fire was under control at about 6:30 p.m. and the U.S. Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology had arrived to the scene.
No injuries were reported.
Pat McGarry told the Herald he lost a 50-foot yacht valued at $300,000.
Fire crews deployed booms to try to contain any fuel spills.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
