Sailboat totaled in fire off Fort Myers Beach

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One person was injured after this sailboat caught fire in Hurricane Bay off Fort Myers Beach. Photo provided by U.S. Coast Guard

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Multiple agencies responded to a fire on this sailboat on Wednesday. One person was transported to the hospital. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Photo courtesy of Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District

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Multiple agencies responded to a fully-involved fire on a 25-foot sailboat off Fort Myers Beach last Wednesday.

A call for help went out at 10:07 a.m. for a boat on fire in Hurricane Bay near San Carlos Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Scott Wirth said.

Fort Myers Beach firefighters responded, along with fire boats from Bonita Springs and Iona-McGregor fire departments, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lee County EMS, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

“One Good Samaritan attempted to extinguish the fire before having to evacuate from the boat. The boat was anchored in the bay not near anything else,” Wirth said. “Fire boats from Bonita Springs and Iona McGregor arrived on scene and extinguished the fire.”

A U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach boat crew picked up the injured occupant from off and transferred him off the boat to Lee County EMS responders. The cause of the fire is under investigation, an official with the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Fort Myers Beach firefighters responded from land and established command of the call, managing the marine and land bases resources that responded, Wirth said.

“The boat is a total loss,” Wirth said.