A fierce fire tore through Hillarys Boat Harbour on Saturday night, destroying four boats in what marks the second major blaze at the marina in just over four months. Fire crews were called to the scene at 10:35pm after reports that a vessel had caught alight, with flames quickly spreading to neighbouring boats.
The blaze began on a single vessel before leaping across the water to others, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and prompting a HAZMAT alert for the surrounding area. Firefighters from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services battled the inferno for hours, finally bringing it under control around 2am.
Andrew Beale, who was staying on a nearby boat for maintenance work, said he was jolted into action by an alarm. “We pulled the fire reels and just started to douse the fuel sources,” he said. “We kept water on the petrols as best we could until fire and rescue came. By that time, one was completely gone, and next minute, three, four all the other boats were caught on fire and burning as well.”
Authorities are now investigating the cause of the blaze, which has left the boating community shaken after a similar incident only months earlier.
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