The 40 foot houseboat was docked in the Capital Yacht Club marina at 900 Water Street S.W. when it erupted into flames around 9:30 pm. The motor vessel was fully engulfed when D.C. Fire and EMS fireboats 1 and 2 arrived from their berth not far from the scene.
The firefighting boats began their attack and were joined by land units dispatched as part of a box alarm assignment. Handlines were extended down the long dock to contain the blaze, which had already begun to spread to boats moored on either side of the blazing vessel.
Fire aboard the exposures was quickly extinguished, but the original fire vessel was destroyed. Five engines, two trucks, a heavy rescue squad, one battalion chief, two fireboats, and the firefighting deputy battled the one alarm blaze, which was brought under control without injuries.
