FAIRHAVEN — A boat was severely damaged by fire late this morning in Fairhaven.

According to Fire Chief Todd Correia, Fairhaven Police received a 911 call at about 11:43 a.m. for a report of a boat fire at the Pease Park boat ramp. The fire department arrived to find a 25-foot cabin cruiser, still on the trailer and attached to a truck, heavily involved in fire.

Correia said the boat was recently fueled and was being launched for the season when a backfire combined with gasoline fumes in the engine compartment apparently caused the fire.

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Correia said the boat owner was on the vessel at the time of the fire, but managed to escape without injury. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze, which caused about $20,000 in damage to the boat, as well as about $5,000 in damage to the town-owned pier at the boat ramp.

Courtesy Fairhaven Fire Department
Courtesy Fairhaven Fire Department
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The Fairhaven Fire Department was assisted by the Fairhaven Harbormaster, Fairhaven Police, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Mattapoisett Fire Department also provided mutual aid assistance for a commercial fire alarm at the same time.

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