Fire at my marina last night

[GnrlPatton]

I have a camera on the boat for security, and it notifies me whenever it detects motion. Around 9:45pm, I got a notification, and looked at the live feed. I saw a bunch of flickering lights, really bright. I swung the camera around to face forward, and was horrified to see a massive fire going on in front of the boat. We immediately got in the car and raced there (I think I made a 25 minute drive in about 15). The fire was contained to the covered slips across from us, but 3 boats were completely destroyed.

When we left around 2am, the fire trucks were mostly gone. Apparently this morning, a section of the roof flared up, so the fire trucks are back. No idea on the cause, but when we first got there and were chatting with the Seattle PD, he said that arson investigators were on site.

Here it was from the apartment buildings behind us:

We were able to inspect our cousins' boat before we left, and amazingly it was undamaged. The empty slip to the left of it in the above pic is owned by some members of our yacht club, and they just left on Saturday for a 10 day cruise. If they hadn't left, their boat would have been destroyed as well, and the fire would have likely been able to continue spreading to more boats.

Here it is this morning, from the opposite direction:

2 years ago the slip in the image above came up for sale, and I almost bought it. Good thing it didn't happen, or I would probably be boatless this morning.

When we got to the marina, probably 30-40 minutes after it started, the response from the Seattle Fire Department was incredible. At least 15 fire trucks, the Seattle FD Fire Boat and even scuba divers. They threw everything they had at the fire and were able to contain it quickly with only 3 boats lost. Kudos to them.

 

[Creekwood]

I have a camera on the boat for security, and it notifies me whenever it detects motion. Around 9:45pm, I got a notification, and looked at the live feed. I saw a bunch of flickering lights, really bright. I swung the camera around to face forward, and was horrified to see a massive fire going on in front of the boat. We immediately got in the car and raced there (I think I made a 25 minute drive in about 15). The fire was contained to the covered slips across from us, but 3 boats were completely destroyed.

That would cause me to absolutely panic. Wow. I am 2hrs from the boat. Could probably do it in 1.5 but the police might disagree and impound my car.

My boat is directly across from the fuel dock. Very convenient, but I know that if there ever is a fire or explosion, there is high risk my boat will be damaged.

 

[skolbe]

Always so frightening. I always feel for the people.

 

[Skybolt]

This is the worst nightmare because most insurance co's will not give replacement value and only what they perceive to be current value. And for older boats like mine it would never get replaced and I would be left with next to nothing for the boat. I feel your concern @GnrlPatton and sigh of relief that your boat is still fine.

 

[GnrlPatton]

This is the worst nightmare because most insurance co's will not give replacement value and only what they perceive to be current value. And for older boats like mine it would never get replaced and I would be left with next to nothing for the boat. I feel your concern @GnrlPatton and sigh of relief that your boat is still fine.

Thanks Orlando. Yeah, my policy is for "agreed value", which wouldn't come close to full replacement. I've asked for more value, and am happy to pay additional premium for it, but I'm at max for what they would cover for a 24 year old boat.

 

[Skybolt]

Thanks Orlando. Yeah, my policy is for "agreed value", which wouldn't come close to full replacement. I've asked for more value, and am happy to pay additional premium for it, but I'm at max for what they would cover for a 24 year old boat.

Mine is the same "Agreed Value" which translates to current market and goes down from there. So I am at the same with a 34 yo. boat. Even though mine has been completely redone they don't care, even though I have multiple surveys stating the condition of the boat. And now this year I may not even be able to get anything but liability.

 

[highslice]

Mine is the same "Agreed Value" which translates to current market and goes down from there. So I am at the same with a 34 yo. boat. Even though mine has been completely redone they don't care, even though I have multiple surveys stating the condition of the boat. And now this year I may not even be able to get anything but liability.

Actually the coverage you are describing is "Actual Cash Value". Agreed value pays you the agreed amount regardless of current market value. I have agreed value coverage and if my boat gets totaled the insurance company will cut me a check for that amount.

 

[GnrlPatton]

I went to the marina again last night and was able to walk down the dock where the fire happened (it had been blocked off with police/fire tape previously) to get some pics of the damage. Just made me sick to my stomach to see the destroyed boats.

I originally thought that this one was the source:

The night of the fire I met the owner of it, and showed him the picture I got (first one in my original post). He mentioned that he had been there working on it all day (didn't say what he was doing on it though) so I suspected that he did something to cause it. However, looking at the damage to this boat, plus the structure around it, it seems more likely that this one is where it started:

The end wall of the structure is just to the left of that pic, and the first boat is between 2 covered structures. I suspect it started on this one, and then ate through the wall to catch the other boat on fire. And of course it just consumed the boat next to it. Really sad.

 

[sbw1]

I found out when we had a house fire in 2014, arson investigation almost always shows up. It was disconcerting to be grilled by them at night outside in the cold right after we just lost everything we own.

In Michigan, and I suspect most all states, property loss fires are initially classified as crime scenes. It is only when arson is ruled out by the fire marshal that the settlement process becomes an administrative matter.

 

[highslice]

I went to the marina again last night and was able to walk down the dock where the fire happened (it had been blocked off with police/fire tape previously) to get some pics of the damage. Just made me sick to my stomach to see the destroyed boats.

I originally thought that this one was the source:
View attachment 132310

The night of the fire I met the owner of it, and showed him the picture I got (first one in my original post). He mentioned that he had been there working on it all day (didn't say what he was doing on it though) so I suspected that he did something to cause it. However, looking at the damage to this boat, plus the structure around it, it seems more likely that this one is where it started:
View attachment 132311

The end wall of the structure is just to the left of that pic, and the first boat is between 2 covered structures. I suspect it started on this one, and then ate through the wall to catch the other boat on fire. And of course it just consumed the boat next to it. Really sad.

Those pics make me sick to my stomach.

 

[sbw1]

North Shore Marina fire several years ago damaged or destroyed a lot of boats. It is times like this when you learn the realties of what it is like to deal with insurance companies.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

Sad indeed but at least there was no loss of life or serious injuries. As they say no one needs a boat, you need a house. When we step back and look at it from altitude this is a first world problem in the grand scheme of things. Some times we (me included) get wrapped up in the importance of our boats. This really should not change anyone's life if they were adequately insured. Who knows may have even solved a problem or two in the end.
Carpe Diem