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Two people were injured when a boat caught fire and exploded in Norwalk Harbor.
It happened Thursday, Aug. 13 at around 6 p.m.
The boat, a 33-foot Egg Harbor, Sportfish motor yacht, was experiencing some engine trouble and was heading back in, when the boat exploded 100 yards from the shore and Country Club, in the harbor's channel, the Norwalk Fire Department said.
Six adults (three couples) were on board when the explosion took place, with one woman below the deck, the department said.
All six ended up in the water.
Two off duty firefighters, Jim Lyons from Norwalk and Nick Marsan from the Westport Fire Department, dove into the water to assist the boaters, on to the dock of the club, the Norwalk Fire Department said.
A nearby resident, Tony Aitoro, jumped in his boat and raced to the scene with life rings and life preservers to assist, the department said.
The owner of the boat and his wife were transported to Norwalk Hospital, where the woman was treated for burn injuries, according to the department.
The injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
The other passengers refused medical treatment.
Norwalk Firefighters responded with their two fireboats to first pull the fully involved boat from the channel and to ground it on the beach, to limit the environmental impact and keep the channel open.
Once the burning boat was beached, the other fireboat finished extinguishing the fire, according to the department.
A total of 24 firefighters responded to the scene as Norwalk Police maintained a safety perimeter around the incident.
State environmental and conservation police, as well as US Coast Guard officials were advised.
A containment boom was deployed around the boat, to contain a minor gasoline leak.
The boat will be salvaged and removed from the water on Friday, Aug. 14.
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