1 person injured, boat sinks after being engulfed in flames off of City Island fuel dock
CITY ISLAND, Bronx (WABC) -- One person was injured after a boat caught fire on City Island Tuesday just before 6 p.m.
The small powerboat sunk in the Long Island Sound shortly after firefighters were able to get the blaze under control. The boat was just off the fuel dock at 673 City Island Avenue in the Bronx when it went up in flames.
Witnesses say the boat's owner had just pulled up for gas and was standing on the dock, when the attendant started filing the tank up.
"As soon as they started fueling there was an explosion," said Tommy Goldberg a neighbor.
One person was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The smoke billowing from the powerboat could be seen for miles.
"I was on my jet ski and heard boom," said Luis Cash, an eyewitness. "It was crazy."
NewsCopter 7 was over the scene as firefighters put out the blaze.
The fire was placed under control an hour after the call for the fire was received. Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to the fuel dock and surrounding buildings.
Sixty firefighters, 12 units, were assigned to control the blaze. They determined that the boat caught fire after crashing into a pillar.
Fire marshals investigated the dock and what was left of the singed pump Tuesday night.
The army corps of engineers will raise the boat from so fire marshals can inspect the wreckage, but investigators believe the cause of the fire was most likely an accident.
All traffic was temporarily blocked on the City Island Bridge. The fire only partially damaged the dock and did not cause damage to the bridge.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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