JOHN STARK
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A boater's attempt to restart an engine with a bowl of gasoline and
starter fluid led to the fire that destroyed three vessels moored at
Squalicum Harbor Tuesday.
Bellingham Fire Department spokesman Brian Flannelly said an
investigation indicated that the fire began on a twin-engine boat of
about 30 feet. One of the two engines was running, and one of the
vessel's occupants was attempting to get the balky second engine to
turn over by feeding the flammable fuel mixture manually into its
carburetor.
After the risky procedure touched off an engine fire, the man emptied
the boat's fire extinguisher onto the blaze and appeared to have it
knocked down, but it flared up again as soon as the fire extinguisher
gave out, Flannelly said. The man ran onto the dock to get another
extinguisher, but by the time he got back the boat was blazing, and
flames soon spread to neighboring vessels.
The man wasn't injured. Two passengers on the boat suffered only minor
burns that did not require hospitalization.
Flannelly identified the owner of the vessel where the fire started as
Vincent Hill of Everson. It was not immediately clear whether Hill was
the one who was attempting to start the engine when the fire broke out.
Hill was not available for comment Wednesday.
Two of the burned vessels, including the one where the fire began, sank
at their moorings. On Wednesday, only one blackened, partially
collapsed hulk was visible at the scene, surrounded by black, floating
ooze. A fourth vessel suffered some smoke and heat damage, its plastic
canopy partly melted.
Port of Bellingham workers managed to contain the spill with floating
booms after the fire was extinguished Tuesday, and on Wednesday they
were at work with absorbent pads cleaning up the mess.
Port of Bellingham spokeswoman Ann Grimm said the port was working with
the U.S. Coast Guard and state Department of Ecology on the
environmental cleanup. Divers plugged up fuel leaks on the two sunken
vessels Wednesday, she said.
The fire did extensive damage to two pilings and the finger docks where
the vessels were moored, Grimm said, but there was no immediate
estimate of repair costs. The port's insurance is expected to cover
much of the damage, and insurance adjusters were en route to
Bellingham, Grimm said.

"Vincent Hill of Everson. It was not immediately clear whether Hill was

the one who was attempting to start the engine when the fire broke out.

Hill was not available for comment Wednesday. "

If I was Hill, I don't think I'd be available for comment either.....




Chuck Gould wrote:
JOHN STARK
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A boater's attempt to restart an engine with a bowl of gasoline and
starter fluid led to the fire that destroyed three vessels moored at
Squalicum Harbor Tuesday.
Bellingham Fire Department spokesman Brian Flannelly said an
investigation indicated that the fire began on a twin-engine boat of
about 30 feet. One of the two engines was running, and one of the
vessel's occupants was attempting to get the balky second engine to
turn over by feeding the flammable fuel mixture manually into its
carburetor.
After the risky procedure touched off an engine fire, the man emptied
the boat's fire extinguisher onto the blaze and appeared to have it
knocked down, but it flared up again as soon as the fire extinguisher
gave out, Flannelly said. The man ran onto the dock to get another
extinguisher, but by the time he got back the boat was blazing, and
flames soon spread to neighboring vessels.
The man wasn't injured. Two passengers on the boat suffered only minor
burns that did not require hospitalization.
Flannelly identified the owner of the vessel where the fire started as
Vincent Hill of Everson. It was not immediately clear whether Hill was
the one who was attempting to start the engine when the fire broke out.
Hill was not available for comment Wednesday.
Two of the burned vessels, including the one where the fire began, sank
at their moorings. On Wednesday, only one blackened, partially
collapsed hulk was visible at the scene, surrounded by black, floating
ooze. A fourth vessel suffered some smoke and heat damage, its plastic
canopy partly melted.
Port of Bellingham workers managed to contain the spill with floating
booms after the fire was extinguished Tuesday, and on Wednesday they
were at work with absorbent pads cleaning up the mess.
Port of Bellingham spokeswoman Ann Grimm said the port was working with
the U.S. Coast Guard and state Department of Ecology on the
environmental cleanup. Divers plugged up fuel leaks on the two sunken
vessels Wednesday, she said.
The fire did extensive damage to two pilings and the finger docks where
the vessels were moored, Grimm said, but there was no immediate
estimate of repair costs. The port's insurance is expected to cover
much of the damage, and insurance adjusters were en route to
Bellingham, Grimm said.

A"bowl" of gasoline????


A redneck weenie roast a tail-gatein' on the docks!


Chuck Gould wrote:
JOHN STARK
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A boater's attempt to restart an engine with a bowl of gasoline and
starter fluid led to the fire that destroyed three vessels moored at
Squalicum Harbor Tuesday.
Bellingham Fire Department spokesman Brian Flannelly said an
investigation indicated that the fire began on a twin-engine boat of
about 30 feet. One of the two engines was running, and one of the
vessel's occupants was attempting to get the balky second engine to
turn over by feeding the flammable fuel mixture manually into its
carburetor.
After the risky procedure touched off an engine fire, the man emptied
the boat's fire extinguisher onto the blaze and appeared to have it
knocked down, but it flared up again as soon as the fire extinguisher
gave out, Flannelly said. The man ran onto the dock to get another
extinguisher, but by the time he got back the boat was blazing, and
flames soon spread to neighboring vessels.
The man wasn't injured. Two passengers on the boat suffered only minor
burns that did not require hospitalization.
Flannelly identified the owner of the vessel where the fire started as
Vincent Hill of Everson. It was not immediately clear whether Hill was
the one who was attempting to start the engine when the fire broke out.
Hill was not available for comment Wednesday.
Two of the burned vessels, including the one where the fire began, sank
at their moorings. On Wednesday, only one blackened, partially
collapsed hulk was visible at the scene, surrounded by black, floating
ooze. A fourth vessel suffered some smoke and heat damage, its plastic
canopy partly melted.
Port of Bellingham workers managed to contain the spill with floating
booms after the fire was extinguished Tuesday, and on Wednesday they
were at work with absorbent pads cleaning up the mess.
Port of Bellingham spokeswoman Ann Grimm said the port was working with
the U.S. Coast Guard and state Department of Ecology on the
environmental cleanup. Divers plugged up fuel leaks on the two sunken
vessels Wednesday, she said.
The fire did extensive damage to two pilings and the finger docks where
the vessels were moored, Grimm said, but there was no immediate
estimate of repair costs. The port's insurance is expected to cover
much of the damage, and insurance adjusters were en route to
Bellingham, Grimm said.