LOS ANGELES, CA – A boat was heavily damaged after catching fire Wednesday afternoon in a residential slip at Huntington Harbour in Huntington Beach, prompting a response from local firefighters, Marine Safety personnel and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol.
The fire was reported shortly before 1 p.m. in the 16000 block of Cotuit Circle, where crews found the vessel fully engulfed in flames. The Huntington Beach Fire Department said firefighters quickly worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby boats or structures.
The response took place in one of Huntington Beach’s residential harbor areas, where homes and private boat slips are located along a network of waterways. The city’s Fire Department provides fire suppression and emergency services, while its Marine Safety Division handles public safety responsibilities in the harbor, along the beach and in surrounding waters.
Harbor Patrol assists from the water
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol also responded to the fire and assisted from the water.
According to fire officials, the Harbor Patrol used a boat-mounted water cannon to attack the flames while Huntington Beach firefighters established hose lines around the affected area.
Fire crews also remained concerned about the possibility of heat, embers or flames reaching nearby property. The response was therefore focused not only on extinguishing the burning vessel but also on preventing the incident from spreading through the residential harbor.
Once the fire was extinguished, the Huntington Beach Fire Department’s hazardous materials team placed absorbent booms in the water as a precaution against potential fuel, fluids or other runoff from the damaged boat.
No injuries reported
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
The vessel was unoccupied when the fire occurred, according to information provided by fire officials. The boat’s owner was at the scene and spoke with investigators after the fire was brought under control.
The vessel was identified as a 33-foot Tiara 3300 yacht named “Nautical Nonsense.” Officials said the damage appeared to be concentrated toward the rear portion of the boat.
The fire was contained before it spread to surrounding infrastructure, limiting the incident to the affected vessel and avoiding injuries to people in the area.
Cause remains under investigation
The cause of the fire had not been determined as of the latest information available.
Investigators were examining the damaged vessel after firefighters extinguished the flames. Officials have not announced a confirmed cause, and there was no indication that investigators had publicly identified a person responsible for the fire.
The Huntington Beach Fire Department maintains specialized fire and marine-safety capabilities for incidents involving the city’s coastline and harbor. City documents describe the department as responsible for fire suppression, emergency medical services and the Marine Safety Division, which provides public-safety services in beach and marine environments.
The investigation into what caused the Huntington Harbour boat fire remains ongoing.
