Boat with fireworks catches fire at Little Gasparilla Pass, is quickly extinguished

LITTLE GASPARILLA ISLAND, Fla. (WINK) — Charlotte County Fire & EMS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to a boat fire on Little Gasparilla Pass.

The fire was reported to the first responders at around 10:34 a.m. on Friday.

According to Charlotte County Fire & EMS, the vessel was an older, abandoned houseboat that had caught fire due to a mechanical issue.

An early investigation of the scene determined that the fire was accidental. 

Firefighters witnessed smoke emanating from the vessel on Little Gasparilla Pass and quickly dispatched it.

No injuries were reported

WINK News contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regarding the boat fire, and they confirmed they had assisted Charlotte County firefighters at the scene.

In addition, FWC provided further context on boat fires and how an investigation is launched if deemed necessary.

According to FWC, "With boat fires, if the fire is caused from the boat itself or equipment that is part of the boat, then it is deemed a boating accident, and we do a report."

Alternatively, if the fire is caused by an external source that’s not part of the boat, then FWC will usually not do a report, as it’s not technically a boat accident.

Fireworks were found onboard; however, they did not cause the fire and were simply present on the vessel at the time of the incident.

FWC will handle the abandoned vessel portion of the incident.