Multiple fire departments responded to a large boat fire near Peanut Island on Tuesday night, including Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
A Palm Beach County spokesperson confirmed their units responded to the area per an aid agreement. Also on the scene were Palm Beach Shores Fire Department’s volunteers, the Riviera Beach Fire Department, as well as the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Two witnesses described to WPTV reporter Joel Lopez what they saw.
Gene Echols, who lives on his boat between Peanut Island and Safe Harbor Rybovich, said he was on his couch watching TV when he heard a big explosion and then saw the fire.
“I haven’t seen a lot except a lot of smoke, a lot of flame,” Echols said. “I talked to a buddy who lives out there he said that one guy got slightly burned. That’s all we know. It’s gonna burn itself out. It was sitting out there on the sand bar. It’s low tide and that fiberglass once it catches it just goes. It’s still burning.
David Davis, who also lives in the area, said he saw the fire while drinking beer at Castaways.