Early morning boat fire sends smoke over Gig Harbor marina, draws firefighters
A man living on a sailboat woke up Saturday morning to the sound of a smoke alarm. By the time flames were extinguished at Gig Harbor’s Bujacich Dock, the sailboat and three other vessels had been damaged, according to a fire department official.
The 38-foot Nautique sailboat was moored to the dock while another vessel was tied up to the first when the fire was reported around 7 a.m.
“He saw fire coming out of the diesel furnace, so he quickly got off,” Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One spokesperson Tina Curran said of the occupant.
West Pierce Fire and Rescue used its fire boat to help fight the blaze and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted.
“We were able to get water on it from both sides,” Curran said.
Boat marina fires are notorious for quickly spreading.
All four boats were still floating as of noon Saturday, according to Coast Guard Chief Ayla Hudson. Containment booms were placed around them to prevent possible fuel spills.
“There’s a slight sheen that’s not recoverable,” she said. The Coast Guard is investigating the fire.
“We’re monitoring right now but obviously, there’s a lot of water on the vessels from the firefighting,” Hudson said.
The dock is shared both by recreational and commercial fishing vessels, Curran said. Her department has used it for training.
“With our familiarity with the space, it made it just that much better of a response,” she said. She also praised the occupant for having a smoke alarm.
“It would have been a much different story had that not been the case,” she said.
NOTE: This story was updated with information from the U.S. Coast Guard which said a total of four vessels were damaged in the fire.
This story was originally published January 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM.
