Vessel Fire in San Diego Bay

Incident Type: Vessel Fire in San Diego Bay
Incident Date/Time: July 17, 2008 at 1649 hrs
Location: San Diego Bay South of the Coronado Bay Bridge
Case #: 08-4349
Prepared by: Sergeant R. Mickschl

The San Diego Harbor Police received a distress call on the Marine radio by a boater calling "MAYDAY". The caller reported that his vessel was on fire and that he was south of the Coronado Bridge in San Diego Bay.

The San Diego Harbor Police vessels answered the call and sent two fire boats into the area and located a 37 foot vessel on fire off of the 32nd Street Naval Station. The US Coast Guard had a vessel respond to the area as well as 32nd St Naval Security forces.

Harbor Police officers arrived on scene and began putting the fire out. Three additional Harbor police boats responded to the area as well. After almost thirty minutes of firefighting, the vessel was taken to pier 2 at the 32nd Street Naval Station where the Federal Firefighters were waiting for the boat. Once alongside the pier, the Federal firefighters assisted in putting the fire out and salvage began to keep it from sinking. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The owner said that he was enroute from Oceanside Harbor to the Chula Vista marina and was off the San Diego Shore when he heard an engine alarm. He continued his journey and after passing the under the Coronado bridge, he heard an explosion. After seeing smoke coming from under the carpet, he opened the engine compartment and was met with a large cloud of smoke and fire coming from the engine compartment. He tried to put the fire out and then called "MAYDAY" on the VHF marine radio. There were no injuries.

The vessel was taken to a local boatyard by a commercial tow firm at the owners request.