Massive boat fire in League City caught on camera

Massive boat fire in League City caught on camera

Four people taken to area hospitals
By Stephanie Guadian
(3/26/07 - KTRK/LEAGUE CITY, TX) - We have exclusive video of an explosion at a marina in League City that sent four people to area hospitals. The fire started on one boat, but quickly spread to others on a day when a lot of people were out on the water.

Four people were onboard the boat when it exploded into flames at the South Shore Marina in Clear Lake.

"I said, 'Oh dear.' As soon as I saw the smoke, I knew it was a gasoline fire," said witness Al Wetterstroem.

Wetterstroem watched as the fire spread from one to three boats. Kamil Mortada was also at the marina. He grabbed his fire extinguisher and tried unsuccessfully to put out the flames.

"I saw two guys," said Mortada. "One was in the water. The other guy out in the pier, badly burned."

In all, four people were injured. Two people had severe burns. A 34-year-old and a 17-year-old were taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hosptial. The other two were taken by ambulance to St Johns.

At one point, the Coast Guard began towing boats out so they would not burn. Mortada couldn't put out the flames, but he was able to pull one man to safety.

"Big puff of smoke, black smoke," he said. "I ran like crazy trying to help these people."

While an investigation into what started the fire continues, Coast Guard officials believe one boat was fueling when some of the fuel leaked into an unsafe area.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)