luxury yacht on fire

Yacht with 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks burns in Marina del Rey

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Marina del Rey’s harbor produced an unexpected light show Wednesday evening as a luxury yacht loaded with ammunition and fireworks burned for more than two hours before flames were extinguished, authorities said.

Flames leaped 20 to 30 feet from the 100-foot vessel, dubbed the Admiral, while live ammunition rounds could be heard firing from the boat, according to videos from the scene .

Thursday morning, the charred yacht was lying on its side, and the water around it was tinted red from the diesel fuel dumped from the vessel. A Coast Guard spokesperson said an estimated 4,000 gallons of diesel was dumped into the water. The total is not official as monitoring continues.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said two passengers aboard the boat exited safely. No information was available about the cause of the blaze.

An L.A. County Fire spokesperson said one individual suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene and was released.

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Firefighters responded to a call around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and eventually knocked out the flames at 10:33 p.m. The boat was declared fully submerged at 11:33 p.m.

The yacht’s owner, who was not identified, told fire officials that the vessel was carrying 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks.

U.S. Coast Guard personnel confirmed they were on the scene evaluating cleanup options.

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Andrew J. Campa is a member of the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times, having previously covered the Eastside and San Gabriel Valley. Before, he worked at several medium and small daily newspapers and has covered education, sports and general news. He’s a proud University of Alabama (#RollTide), Cal State Fullerton and Pasadena City College alumnus.

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California yacht loaded with 1,000 rounds of ammo, fireworks bursts into flames and sinks at popular marina.

A luxurious California yacht filled with fireworks and 1,000 rounds of ammunition burst into a fiery inferno before sinking into the Marina del Rey on Wednesday night.

The Admiral, a 100-foot, twin-diesel-engine boat, was docked in the man-made harbor when it erupted into flames, leading to a large-scale response from the LA Fire Department.

Only two hours after catching fire, the nearly million-dollar boat sank into the 800-acre marina 5 miles south of Santa Monica.

Two people escaped the blaze without injuries, the fire department reported.

Witnesses captured the flames tearing through the 100-foot yacht as fireworks illuminated the black smoke and flew across the sky.

Efforts to extinguish the flames appeared successful from the outside, but the fire burning on the inside seemed to be resistant to the water hoses as the blaze continued to destroy the interior, according to KTLA.

Dozens of first responders and intrigued community members watched the fallen boat lying in the marina while crews continued to douse the wreckage with water.

Neighbors grew fearful that the blaze would extend into nearby boats and potentially set off a chain reaction.

“I saw it fully engulfed in flames and like many of us living here, heard an explosion and saw fireworks coming off it, and more flames and then walked down here and captured video of it,” resident Lynn Rose told NBC Los Angeles .

The boat was reportedly being fueled by a propane source “complicating” firefighting efforts. Officials set up a floating physical barrier known as a boom to prevent debris, including diesel fuel, from polluting the waters.

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It began listing to its side, forcing officials to evacuate everyone from the dock. The destroyed yacht sank around 10:30 p.m. while the fire continued to burn below deck.

Officials did not indicate how the fire started as of Thursday morning.

The Admiral, built by Broward Marine in 1986, featured four cabins including the master suite, could hold 10 guests with three crew members, and was last listed in 2018 for $985,000, according to Boat International.

Before its fiery destruction, the boat could reach a top speed of 18 knots (20 mph).

The owner’s identity was not immediately revealed.

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Yacht sinks at Marina Del Rey dock after ammunition and fireworks catch on fire

By Dean Fioresi , Julie Sharp

Updated on: September 20, 2024 / 6:01 AM PDT / KCAL News

A luxury yacht carrying nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks caught fire shortly before sinking in the Marina del Rey harbor on Wednesday evening. Two people were on board the 100-foot yacht when the fire ignited, but both were able to get off safely.  

The U.S. Coast Guard continued environmental cleanup efforts Thursday morning as the yacht bobbed on its side, testing air quality and remediating water contamination from fuel spillage. By Friday morning, 2,000 feet of boom were installed around the area as crews coordinate with the Oil Spill Response Organization to assess the extent of impact and continue to clean up.

At around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday,  firefighters rushed to the docks at Basin A, where the boat, named "The Admiral," was heavily involved in flames, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Crews tried to fight the fire both by ground and by water, but it proved difficult to contain.

Bystander video showed fireworks shooting off the deck of the boat and bursting overhead, all while firefighters worked to contain the volatile flames. Two hours later, the boat quickly sank below the water line and by 11 p.m. it was nearly fully submerged. 

With SkyCal overhead Wednesday evening, large flames could be seen inside of the boat despite a heavy barrage of water being sprayed by crews. Hours after the firefight began, SkyCal returned to the scene where the  boat had almost sank  entirely under the water in the harbor. 

After sinking, crews began a "booming" operation, which was conducted in order to contain the foam that firefighters sprayed and the fuel that leaked during the incident. Heavy equipment was brought in to pull the boat back to the surface, leaving it floating on its side.

Thursday morning, a Coast Guard representative said efforts are concentrated on containing hazardous fuel or other material that may have spilled into the water. Also, air quality is a concern as the boat was filled with 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

"What we do know is that the vessel capacity was 6,000 gallons. We do know that they fueled up with 4,000 gallons of diesel, but we still do not know how much fuel discharged out into the environment and how much remains still in the vessel," Lt. Cmdr. Omar Borges, of the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Air readings so far say that there are no flammable fumes in the air, and the air is not hazardous for locals to breathe, according to the Coast Guard. 

The process will take a number of days, monitoring air and water. Officials said there is no evidence yet that any wildlife has been harmed. 

It's unclear if the people on the yacht were the owners, but there were no injuries. Officials have not yet confirmed how they will upright the boat and remove it from the harbor. 

Dean Fioresi is a web producer for CBS Los Angeles. He covers breaking news throughout Southern California. When he's not writing about local events, he enjoys focusing on sports and entertainment.

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1,000 rounds of ammunition and fireworks were onboard yacht that burned in Marina del Rey: Owner

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- The owner of a luxury yacht that erupted in flames and sank in Marina del Rey said 1,000 rounds of "unspent ammunition and fireworks" were onboard the vessel, according to fire officials.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department provided an update on the incident in a social media post Thursday morning.

The fire was reported shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at 211 Basin A, where flames engulfed the multi-level, 100-foot boat, the agency said.

Residents in the area said they heard multiple explosions resonating throughout the harbor as yacht was consumed by flames. Fire officials said two people were able to get off the boat uninjured.

Fire crews poured water onto the burning vessel, which later sank into the harbor.

An environmental hazard team was expected to arrive in Marina del Rey Thursday to assist with the cleanup of the burned vessel.

A United States Coast Guard Incident Management Team from Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach is monitoring the cleanup efforts, according to the Coast Guard, which said that the yacht "caught fire and discharged red-dye diesel."

"The fire did not appear to damage any other vessels in the harbor," the USCG said in a statement Thursday. "The Coast Guard is working with Patriot Environmental Services and Clean Harbors organizations to contain and recover the discharge from the yacht."

The yacht's fuel capacity was reported to be 6,000 gallons, according to the Coast Guard. Crews from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department are also assisting in the efforts.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network was also notified and was on standby for wildlife response. "No observations of oiled wildlife have been reported at this time," the Coast Guard said Thursday morning. "For your safety and the safety of the animals, do not attempt to capture oiled animals." Witnesses were urged to report oiled wildlife to (877) 823-6926.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Related Topics

• MARINA DEL REY
• BOATING SAFETY
• FIREFIGHTERS

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Luxury yacht sinks after fire; explosions heard on video

LOS ANGELES ( KABC ) — A high-end yacht docked at Marina del Rey sank after catching on fire Wednesday night.

The fire in Basin A was first reported around 8:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Firefighters responded and poured water on the 100-foot vessel from the dock at the end of Bora Bora Way.

Witness video captured the sounds of several explosions as firefighters battled the flames.

But the interior flames appeared to resist the water hoses and the boat continued sustaining damage. It quickly began taking on water from the hoses as the flames, possibly fueled by a gas source, continued to burn.

The yacht began listing, and by around 10:30 p.m. firefighters were ordered to evacuate the dock. The boat began slowly overturning onto its side and sinking into the water.

There were no major injuries reported. Two people on board exited safely, though one reported a minor cut to the arm.

There was no word on how the fire started. Authorities said it’s possible ammunition was on board the vessel.

The boat is named The Admiral, but the identity of the owner was not immediately available.

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Fireworks, ammunition lead to explosion on yacht in Marina del Rey

Fireworks, ammunition lead to explosion on yacht.

Two people on the luxury yacht were rescued, according to authorities.

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. - A luxury yacht docked in Marina del Rey was completely destroyed after a fire triggered fireworks and ammunition to go off.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a call in the 13800 block of Bora Bora Way a little after 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18. 

Firefighters say two people safely got out of the 100-foot-long yacht. Neither were hurt in the massive fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.  

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Boat explodes in Marina del Rey

Video captured by a witness showed dozens of fireworks going off and loud explosions coming from the fully-engulfed yacht.  

Officials overnight confirmed a large amount of ammunition as well as fireworks were being stored on the boat, which sparked the explosions. 

Engines, fire boats, and rescue boats doused the flames from both land and water.  

Fireworks send $1M yacht up in flames

A $1 million yacht caught fire in Marina Del Rey, completely destroying the boat. Fireworks were seen shooting out of the boat as it was engulfed in flames. Officials are investigating what caused the fire.

The three-story, $1 million yacht partially sunk about 20 feet deep after the fire was knocked down. 

Crews then started focusing on minimizing the environmental impact by using booms to contain any fuel or contaminants from spreading farther into the water.

No major damage occurred to surrounding vessels. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

"The yacht's fuel capacity is reported to be 6,000 gallons," the USCG statement said. "Crews from California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and Los Angeles County Sheriff's (Department) are also assisting in the efforts.

"The Oiled Wildlife Care Network has been notified and is on standby for wildlife response," the USCG statement said. "No observations of oiled wildlife have been reported at this time. For your safety and the safety of the animals, do not attempt to capture oiled animals. Report oiled wildlife to 1- 877-823-6926."

Crime and Public Safety | 100-foot luxury yacht sinks in Marina del Rey…

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Crime and Public Safety

Subscriber only, crime and public safety | 100-foot luxury yacht sinks in marina del rey after fireworks explosion and fire.

The fire was reported shortly after 8:33 p.m. and firefighters responded to 211 Basin A to douse the flames on the approximately 100-foot boat, the Los Angeles County Fire Department reported.

Multiple explosions resonated throughout the harbor as The Admiral was consumed by flames.

Footage at the scene from CBS 2 showed the boat listing to one side before sinking in the harbor.

Two people on board escaped the flames unharmed, the fire department reported. ABC 7 reported one person suffered a cut on the arm.

KTLA reported that the fire stemmed from fireworks exploding on the vessel, threatening other boats nearby and several structures.

An investigation into the fire was underway.

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