Fire On The Sound

Published on 9/20/2006
1998-2006 The Day Publishing Co.

The Mystic Fire Department's fireboat Joseph E. Herman responds Monday to a 42-foot recreational boat that caught fire five miles south of Fishers Island. The boat went into flames with 300 gallons of diesel fuel on board, according to a spokesman for Coast Guard Long Island Sound, which responded to the fire along with crews from Waterford and Mystic fire departments. The boat was apparently headed for Norwalk from Newport, R.I., when the fire started. Coast Guard officials said they were able to save the boat's driver, John Falk, before the boat capsized and sank into the Sound. Officials do not know what started the fire and said they do not intend to investigate the incident as it was a personal, and not a commercial watercraft.