Boat blaze doused by firefighters
06 November 2006 - 11:36
About 50 firefighters were needed to tackle a blaze on two privately-owned boats on the East Sussex coast.
The crews were called to Brighton marina on Sunday evening and took almost three hours to control the fire, with help from three lifeboats.
Two people were taken to hospital in the city suffering from burns and the effects of smoke inhalation.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said neither boats could be saved and both had since sunk.
Absorbent pads
A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the location of the fire off pontoon 15 made it difficult to get to.
Foam was used to douse the blaze because too much water may have caused the vessels to sink.
One of the boats is believed to be a yacht. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Oil containment booms and absorbent pads have been put in place to contain fuel released from the sunken vessels.
