JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --
Investigators with the State Fire Marshal's office have ruled a boat fire that destroyed a 40-foot yacht on the Ortega River early Saturday morning to be arson. Investigators believe vandals are responsible for the destruction.
Authorities said the blaze broke out around 4 a.m. Saturday, at the boat dock at the Venetian Condos in the 5300 block of Ortega Forest Drive.
The boat's owner, Dennis Cleary, says young vandals set the boat on fire early this morning and cut another boat loose and left it floating in the river. Cleary says this is the 8th time vandals have struck the neighborhood's boat dock.
Investigators ask anyone with any information to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's office at 904-630-0500.
