HARBORVIEW MARINA FIRE
AT GIG HARBOR
(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)


2000 view of Gig Harbor looking approximately north.  Fire was at northern of two large covered boat sheds at upper left center of photograph.  Boat shed involved is outlined in red.

Summary Information 

Date of Incident:  
August 31, 2005 about 7:15 a.m.

Location:  
Gig Harbor Topographic Map

Product/Quantity:  
Sheen

Cause:  
Under investigation

Responsible Party:  
 Unknown
 

News Items

Photographs

Other Information

  

Wednesday, 09/07/05 1:00 p.m.

HARBORVIEW MARINA FIRE UPDATE
 

The fire was first reported at about 7:15 a.m. and was brought under control by the afternoon of Wednesday, August 31. Roughly 55 boats were damaged - 48 of those were sunk. Most boats were burned to the waterline. During the initial response, quick action by the Gig Harbor fire and police crews to deploy spill containment boom kept oil from the boats that was not burned-off from polluting the waters throughout Gig Harbor.

Additional containment boom has been placed around the burned marina. Strong diesel odors persistent in the area inside the boom. Small amounts of debris and oil sheen may be seen outside the boomed area. Spill response crews from National Response Corporation and Global Diving and Salvage are removing oily debris and sunken vessels from the water. Recovery efforts are underway with a large crane on scene to remove sections of metal roofing and marina structural members, then sunken boats in the pathway of the crane. By Wednesday morning, September 7th, twenty-two sunken boats had been removed.

The response is being directed through a cooperative effort between the Department of Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard and the City of Gig Harbor.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by local fire authorities.

Boat owners and insurance representatives may contact the U.S. Coast Guard, MST1 Matt Valenti, (206) 510-8012 for additional information.
   

Wednesday, 08/31/05 1:00 p.m.
HARBORVIEW MARINA FIRE
 

Initial Information 08/31/05

A fire at the Harborview Marina was reported to Ecology at about 8 a.m. this morning.

Responding organizations include the Gig Harbor Fire Department, Pierce County Sheriff's Department, Ecology, Coast Guard, and Environmental Protection Agency.

A report from the scene at shortly before noon was that about 1,000 feet of oil containment boom were deployed around the marina.   Local officials bought the spill response boom deployed around the marina, Ecology bought a storage trailer and trained them on its use.  The report indicated that some sheen was visible within the boomed area of the marina.  An additional 6,000 feet of boom was in transit.

A safety zone around the area was being overseen by Coast Guard personnel.  The Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring the smoke plume, which is visible from some miles away.

The local fire department is directing firefighting efforts.  A Unified Command will be established later today to deal with the cleanup.