A fire below deck created a frantic scramble aboard a fishing boat in New Bedford on Thursday.
NBC 10's Larry Estepa reported that a spark from a welding job on the deck of the Nordic Explorer apparently made its way below and ignited some hydraulic fluid.
Crewmembers saw smoke, followed it to the fire and tried to put it out, but they couldn't. Fire trucks scrambled to Fish Island, located between New Bedford and Fairhaven.
Firefighters had a hard time getting to the fire. The heat caused problems, too. Firefighters in their heavy gear and masks could only work below deck a few minutes at a time before others relieved them.
New Bedford Deputy Fire Chief Brian Faria reported no serious injuries, but emergency medical technicians worked on a couple of firefighters who were overcome by the heat.
Estepa reported that firefighters had to work quickly to keep the small fire from spreading forward to an area of the fishing boat full of foam insulation, which would have set off a more dangerous fire.
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