Photos and article by Ron Jeffers
A row of three pleasure boats were quickly consumed by fire at the Lincoln Harbor Marina in Weehawken, New Jersey, on the morning of February 18, sending a huge column of black smoke over the Hudson River and blocking out the New York City skyline.
The North Hudson Regional Fire Department was dispatched to a reported boat fire just before the department’s 0730 hours shift change. Upon arrival, units found two pleasure boats fully involved and fire extending to a third. The boats ranged from 32 feet to 42 feet in length.
Long stretches of LDH were made to supply water to the dock involved. Deputy Chief Mike Cranwell transmitted the second- and third-alarms for additional personnel because of the high winds, slippery conditions due to ice forming in the below-freezing weather, and protection of the docks from burning and people occupying larger boats in the area.
Firefighters walked to each of the larger boats to notify occupants to evacuate and escorted them through the smoke to land.
Cabins on the boats collapsed, creating deep-seated fire. North Hudson Marine 2 responded, but the tide was too low to operate. Additional fireboats responded to the alarm which consisted of Jersey City Marine 1 and F.D.N.Y. Marine 1 Alpha and Marine 6. The were two land R.I.T. teams and F.D.N.Y. provided a marine F.A.S.T. team.
A call for available foam went out to North Hudson firehouses that was used on the fires to complete extinguishment.
The fire was declared under control at 10:19 a.m. by D.C Cranwell.
