Water training interrupted by Mayday call for a boat fire

ust after 12:45 p.m. today, Baltimore City Fire Department Fireboat 1 was conducting a training exercise in Curtis Bay when the crew heard a mayday call for a boat fire near the site of the former Key Bridge. They quickly responded and called for Fire Rescue Boat.

Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s marine units, who were also training nearby, responded immediately. Good Samaritans reached the scene first and rescued two civilians from the water. No reported injuries.

Working together, the four fireboats extinguished a fire that had started in the vessel’s engine compartment. TowBoatUS later towed the boat to a local marina.

Great teamwork, fast response, and strong regional coordination kept this emergency from becoming a tragedy.