Longport Marine 3 Unit responds to boat fire near JFK bridge
The Longport Volunteer Fire Department responded to the report of a boat fire shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday, June 20 at mile marker 230 near the John F. Kenndy Memorial Bridge.
Capt. Tom Kresz, who is also the chief of the Longport Beach Patrol, responded to the scene at 9:09 a.m. in a Beach Patrol vehicle. He located the 25-foot boat and dispatched the department’s Marine 3 Unit to respond to the boat fire.
There were five adults on board, along with three children, who were moved to a passing boat that stopped to offer assistance. A Sea Tow boat arrived at the scene to pick up the adult passengers.
No one was injured.
Two firefighters boarded the boat to discover the fire started in the engine compartment as a result of smoldering wires. They disconnected the electrical power from the boat batteries and used a dry chemical extinguisher to smother the blaze. A portable pump hose line on Marine 3 was on standby but not needed. The fire was extinguished within five minutes, according to a report from Chief Levon “Lefty” Clayton.
All passengers were transported to the Fire Department’s Marine 3 dock behind Borough Hall where they waited for a ride home. Transportation home was provided by US Boat/Shamrock towing through the boat owner’s towing insurance policy.
The New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, US Coast Guard and Sea Tow Marine offered assistance.
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