(Note to readers: This story was relayed by Ron Hynes, who has set up a Go Fund Me account for Rusty Chrisley, his friend who lost everything in a fire on his boat.)
A 72-year-old Navy veteran lost everything last week when a fire claimed his Pearson 37-foot sailboat that he was living on at Fishing Bay Marina in Deltaville.
About 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, Rusty Chrisley, was on his boat with his 13-year-old Pomeranian dog, “Star,” when he smelled smoke. The smoke intensified, making it hard to see inside the cabin.
He noticed the flames breaking through a speaker on a bulkhead in the rear corner of the cockpit. He emptied two fire extinguishers at the flames, but they were already too hot.
Chrisley grabbed his dog, coat and cell phone and escaped what would soon be a blazing inferno. A nearby boater arrived with four fire extinguishers. However, even after emptying two of these extinguishers, the fire was too hot to approach safely. Chrisley’s friend Ron Hynes said the fire occurred in the early evening and had it been two or three hours later, Chrisley would probably have been asleep in the forward berth and likely never escaped the ensuing inferno. No injuries were reported.
911
A 911 call went out and the Lower Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department (LMVFD) arrived quickly. “They should get some kudos,” said Hynes. “They were here in a heartbeat and these guys did a good job protecting other boats and displayed professionalism.”
The Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad also responded.
The fire had intensified, said Hynes. The boat’s propane tank exploded and the debris settled on another boat severely damaging its canvas. The lithium-ion battery bank on the opposite side of the hull caught fire shooting sparks. The aluminum mast’s base melted, causing the entire spar with boom and mainsail to crash onto an adjacent boat. Fortunately, the slips next to Chrisley’s boat on either side were vacant.
The lithium batteries exploding gave off some “fireworks,” Murray said. The fuel tank was not compromised.
Firefighting foam
Paul Murray, assistant chief of Deltaville-based LMVFD, explained that firefighters used a special non-toxic foam that smothers the fire that works better than water in some cases.
Foam does not weigh as much as water. If a lot of water has been used it could have collected in the hull and caused the boat to sink. However, it remained afloat.
This was the first run for the LMVFD’s new engine pumper, that had just been put in service last month. It replaces a 32-year-old truck.
Go Fund Me
Hynes asked all to consider making a donation at GoFundMe.com for Rusty’s benefit. Chrisley is now homeless and temporarily living on another boat, said Hynes. In the first 24 hours after the fire he incurred more than $8,000 out of pocket in fees related to the aftermath. “Anything you can spare would be appreciated by this live-a-board sailor,” said Hynes.
Hynes can be reached at 954-319-0944 or riffhynes@gmail.com
Rusty Chrisley could not be reached.
