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A superboat carrying about 8,000 gallons of fuel sank after catching fire while moored at a Torquay marina.
Firefighters were battling the blaze when it wrecked the 85-foot boat earlier Saturday, and fire service confirmed at 1:30 p.m. that part of the dock was also on fire.
Devon and the Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) said they had five aircraft at the scene and that the case has been handed over to the Environment Agency and the head of the port.
Officers evacuated a beach and nearby roads, with a witness describing the fire as “like a fireball.”
Police said the cause of the fire is currently being treated as inexplicable.
By 6 p.m., the fire had been extinguished and crews were working to cushion the dock, a DSFRS spokesman said.
Firefighters arrived at the incident for the first time at noon. Credit: Georgina Cleasby
No injuries were reported, but the port was temporarily shut down, with fears of a large amount of diesel on the burning ship.
A DSFRS spokesman said earlier that the yacht “contains approximately 8,000 liters of diesel” and that the crew had deployed four breathing apparatus users, a jet of compressed air foam, two 45 mm jets and two bombs. “.
The water relief was carried out by means of an open water source and a mouth of water.
Thick black feathers could be seen from the yacht, with smoke seen all over South Devon and as far as Newton Abbot and Shaldon.
Georgina Cleasby was cycling from Brixham when she saw the fire. He said: “We arrived at the Grand Hotel around 12.10pm and were able to see thick columns of pungent smoke blowing from Torquay Harbor.
A boat was reportedly towed away from the fire. Credit: Philip Miller
“We stayed and watched for about 10 minutes until the smoke started to affect our chest.
“There was so much smoke in the sun.
“We heard a few minor explosions and we could also see flames.”
Devon and Cornwall police said earlier they were moving people away from the pier because the fire was nearby. In a statement, the force said: “The boat has now been secured by firefighters near the dock.
“No one was injured at the time. Emergency services remain at the scene.
Credit: George Darling
“Due to smoke and smoke levels, we are asking residents in the area to keep their doors and windows closed at this time.
“Citizens are also urged to avoid the area and the beaches are being cleaned by public safety officers.”
Drew Parkinson, commander of the South Devon Coast Guard area and the south-east coast of Cornwall, urged people to avoid the area, as coastguards helped emergency services deal with the fire. .
The Environment Agency has been contacted for comment.