Boat Fire Destroys Vessel; Occupants Rescued In Anne Arundel County

SEVERNA PARK, MD — A boat fire destroyed a 32-foot vessel recently in Severna Park, officials said.

Crews said nobody was hurt in the blaze, which claimed an Eastport 32 cruiser last weekend in the Severn River.

"Both of the vessel's occupants were transported to land by good samaritans," Maryland Natural Resources Police spokesperson Vincent Hunter Dortenzo told Patch in a Thursday email. "The vessel was declared a total loss."

First responders said they were called Saturday around 4:10 p.m. for the blaze in Sullivan Cove near Cedar Point.

Officials said boats from the Anne Arundel County and Annapolis fire departments battled the flames, which were out within an hour. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Natural Resources Police also responded.

"Because the boat was underway, either the Coast Guard or DNR will be investigating the fire," Anne Arundel County Fire Department Capt. Jenny Macallair told Patch in a Thursday statement.

The Coast Guard is "monitoring the situation for pollution," Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Bokum said in a Friday email.

A witness told The Capital that the Annapolis fireboat prevented the burning vessel from drifting into a community pier.

"The way they handled the situation was just a reflection of their level of skill and professionalism," defense attorney Peter O'Neill told The Capital after watching the scene unfold from his riverside home.

To learn more about the save and see photos of the fire, read The Capital's story.

The Annapolis Fire Department did not answer Patch's request for comment before publication. We will update this story if it responds.

This map shows the area where crews said the fire happened.