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62-Foot Yacht Catches Fire Off Cape May, New Jersey Ferry Terminal

June 13, 2004

A 62-foot yacht loaded with 900 gallons of fuel caught fire Saturday about a quarter-mile east of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal, the Coast Guard said.

CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) -- A 62-foot yacht loaded with 900 gallons of fuel caught fire Saturday about a quarter-mile east of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal, the Coast Guard said.

Petty Officer John Edwards of the Atlantic City station said the fire was reported about 1:40 p.m. and was allowed to burn because of dangers posed by fighting the fire.

Two people aboard the yacht were picked up Cape May ferry police, he said. They were not hurt.

By 3:30 p.m., the fire had nearly consumed the fuel, which Edwards said was apparently the normal volume for a boat of the yacht's size.

A salver also had been contacted. ``Once the boat burns out, they're going to take care of it,'' Edwards said.

A cause for the fire not not immediately known.