Friday July, 27 2012 @ 10:13:35

Nature: Marine Fire – Boat Explosion

Location: Massey's Landing Boat Ramp

Address: 36634 Long Neck Rd Millsboro, DE 19966

On Friday morning, July 27th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a marine fire at the Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp off of Long Neck Road. Initial reports indicated possibly a boat and vehicle fire at the boat ramp.

Emergency response units included Indian River’s Marine Unit 80 Marine 1 and Utility 80 from the Oak Orchard facility, Engine #80-3 and #80-5 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police. Indian River’s units were to prepare for launching at Massey’s Landing with specific assignments to mitigate the vessel fire that was let drift across Massey’s Ditch into the marshy area.

Indian River’s Incident Command was coordinated by First Assistant Chief Ryan Mock who provided a scene synopsis which included a vessel fully involved that was drifting in Massey’s Ditch area, the boat trailer appears to be submerged at or near end of the ramp area, and the vehicle has been completely disconnected from the vessel and trailer. All occupants of the vehicle and vessel are safe on land based upon the vessel not being completely launched.

It appears that a mariner with his vessel, trailer and vehicle were attempting to launch the vessel at the Massey’s Landing Ramp area and was located on the actual launching ramp. The mariner indicated that he encountered problems with starting the vessel, possibly flooding with fuel, and attempted to connect an ancillary battery which sparked and may have ignited the fumes and/or vapors in or near the engine compartment. Witness accounts indicated that there was an explosion type situation and the mariner disconnected the vessel and trailer from the vehicle. The vessel floated and drifted across the Massey’s Ditch area. The trailer apparently rolled down the boat ramp area and was fully submerged. The vehicle was relocated into the parking lot area. Apparently, the mariner suffered burns as a result of the incident.

Emergency response crews were assigned to coordinate scene and vehicle stabilization, where needed; assist with patient stabilization, where needed; commence with mitigation measures to launch and suppression the vessel fire; and provide traffic control and scene preservation assistance for the duration of the incident.

Additional incident notification included the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) – Marine Police Division; the Delaware State Police SCUBA Team; as well as the United States Coast Guard – Indian River Unit all of which responded to the incident.

DNREC was to coordinate the location and recovery of the boat trailer as well as oversee the salvage and recovery of the vessel from the waterway. 

Indian River’s vessel did assist with towing the destroyed vessel back to the boat ramp area. The DNREC – Marine Police Division is continuing to investigate the incident.

Additional information may be obtained by view the following web pages:

(1) WBOC TV Channel 16

http://www.wboc.com/story/19129478/one-injured-in-long-neck-boat-explosion

One Injured in Long Neck Boat Explosion

LONG NECK, Del. — Officials say a man was injured in an explosion on his boat early Friday morning.

According to the Indian River Volunteer Fire Department, the explosion occurred when the owner was launching the 21-foot-long Chris-Craft boat at Massey's Landing around 7:30 a.m.

The boat was disconnected from its trailer. Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Mock said the watercraft was engulfed in flames for about half an hour and was observed by numerous witnesses.

The fire department said the boat's owner suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene.

The boat was reportedly towed away and the cause of fire is under investigation by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

(2) WGMD Radio 92.7

UPDATE: Second Call To Massey’s Landing Boat Ramp Was For Hot Spots

UPDATED JULY 28 BY ANDREW KOCH: We now know why firefighters were called back to Massey’s Landing for a second time yesterday morning.

Sergeant Greg Rhodes of the Division of Fish and Wildlife tells WGMD that after the 21-foot Chris-Craft boat was pulled from the water and placed onto a wrecker, it was still smoldering. Rhodes says firefighters were called back to spray down the hot spots on the inside of the boat.

The initial call for the fire came in to the Indian River Fire Company just before 7:15 yesterday morning. Firefighters were called back to Massey’s Landing about three hours later. The boat launch area reopened at noon after being closed for nearly five hours. The owner sustained minor injuries in the fire. DNREC is searching the water for his trailer, which sank after he disconnected it from his truck. 

http://www.wgmd.com/?p=64427

UPDATE: Boat Fire at Massey’s Landing Injures One

UPDATED STORY: DNREC is investigating a boat fire at Massey’s Landing this morning. Firemen from Indian River were called about 7:15 a.m. for an explosion as the owner of the 21-foot-long Chris-Craft boat was attempting to launch the craft; it took firemen about an hour to extinguish the flames.

Fire Department officials say the owner of the boat sustained only minor injuries.

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7:45 a.m.: WGMD News Stringler Alan Henney is following a boat fire at Massey’s Landing in the Millsboro/Long Neck area this morning.

Henney tells WGMD an explosion was heard around 7:15 a.m.; he says there are injuries; just how many and how extensive we do not know at this time.

Firemen from Indian River and other rescue personnel are on the scene. DEVELOPING…..

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7:30 a.m.: Firemen from Indian River are on the scene of a boat fire at Massey’s Landing Boat Ramp in the Millsboro/ Long Neck area.

(3) News Journal – www.delawareonline.com

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120727/NEWS01/307270055/Massey-s-Landing-boat-ramp-back-open-after-fire?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CLocal%7Cp&nclick_check=1

Massey's Landing boat ramp back open after fire

A boat fire this morning at Massey’s Landing closed the boat ramp for several hours and destroyed a vessel.

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sgt. Gregory Rhodes said a man was launching his boat this morning at about 7:30 a.m. when it caught on fire.

Rhodes said the man had the wherewithal to detach the boat and its trailer from his vehicle. That sent the boat and trailer in the water, avoiding damage to his vehicle or the dock.

The 21-foot Chris-Craft center console was destroyed, Rhodes said, and the trailer became lost in the water. DNREC used side-scan sonar to locate the trailer, which went into the Massey’s Ditch channel before sinking. The trailer was removed, and the boat ramp reopened around noon.

Indian River Fire Department responded to the fire. No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but Rhodes said the boater had just refueled prior to launching. 

(3) Delaware Surf Fishing.com - http://www.delaware-surf-fishing.com/boat-fire-at-masseys-landing-and-a-little-surf-fishing/