Naples boat fire doused by jet skiers
Personal watercraft riders extinguished a boat fire in Naples on Saturday. (Courtesy of Alexander Hitchen)
A boat fire near the Naples Causeway was extinguished by jet skiers on Saturday**.**
Alexander Hitchen, a Portland resident who witnessed the event, noticed the fire while driving up the Causeway around 2:30 p.m. He praised the jet skiers, as well as a pontoon boat captain, for their quick thinking, as they used their motors to propel water onto the fire, preventing it from spreading to other boats. By the time a boat from the Naples Fire Department arrived, the fire was extinguished.
“It was just … incredibly, smart thinking, quick thinking on their part, at getting it before it escalated into something that potentially could have been far more serious on such a pleasant day,” said Hitchen.
Naples Fire Chief Justin Cox said the department received a call about the fire on Long Lake at around 2:30 p.m., and arrived to discover the fire extinguished and the passengers having jumped into the water. The passengers were taken to a nearby dock for evaluation. Cox said the fire department towed the boat to shore, extensive engine damage meant it was likely unsalvageable.
Reporter Isabelle Oss contributed to this story.
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Rory, an experienced reporter from western Massachusetts, joined the Maine Trust for Local News in October 2024. He is a community reporter for Windham, Raymond, Casco, Bridgton, Naples, Standish, Gray,. More by Rory Sweeting
