Four homes were damaged after a boat reportedly exploded in New Orleans May 16.
At 10:23 p.m. the New Orleans Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a fire in the 7900 block of Breakwater Drive. The caller stated a house and a boat were on fire.
The first fire company arrived at 10:30 and found heavy smoke and fire coming from a two-story, wood-frame boathouse. Firefighters made an interior attack but were immediately ordered from the fire building after it was discovered that a boat fully engulfed in flames in the rear of the boathouse.
A second alarm was struck at 10:41 to account for exposures in close proximity and a second boat that began to catch fire.
Fire Boat Blaze was activated to fight the fire from the rear while firefighters fought the fire in front of the boathouses.
The fire was placed under control at 11:25 p.m.
Four homes in total were damaged by heavy smoke and fire. The initial fire building received heavy smoke and fire damage with one boat totally destroyed. The exposures received heavy smoke and fire damage with radiant heat damaging a boat.
The owner of the home where the fire broke out stated “he went to start his boat and it exploded" and residents reported hearing a loud boom before they escaped from their homes.
A total of 44 fire personnel responded with 16 units and New Orleans Emergency Medical Services.
