MARATHON, FLA. (WSVN) - Rescue crews responded to a large fire at a marina in Marathon, Monday morning.
The City of Marathon and Monroe County Fire Rescue crews responded to a call of a boat fire at Vaca Key Marina, at Mile Marker 47.5, at around 2:30 a.m.
According to officials, upon their arrival, the flames had engulfed a house and an acre-sized lot filled with wooden lobster traps.
A 7News viewer captured cellphone video of the flames shooting into the air. The fire took about three hours to contain.
“I could feel the heat from where we were,” said witness Michael Grady, who shot the cellphone video.
Grady, a retired firefighter, said he understood just how severe the fire was the moment he saw the flames. “This would be one of the bigger ones that I’ve ever had in my career,” he said.
In total, officials said, the fire destroyed at least three lobster boats, six propane-powered forklifts, several trap shacks, tools, a home and about 200,000 lobster traps.
Marathon Fire Rescue Chief John Johnson said the equipment made it more difficult to extinguish the flames. “They’re surrounded with air, concrete in the bottom, so it’s a perfect fuel to the fire,” he said.
The total damage cost exceeds $1 million, according to a Monroe County news release.
A home was evacuated. However, no injuries were reported.
Julia Diaz and her husband, Fernando, have been in the fishing industry for 36 years. “That’s his life,” said Julia.
Julia said they had just cleared themselves of debt when they woke up to the news that they had lost everything.
“We don’t know. I can tell you we don’t know. We don’t know where to start off. Not even if you had money you could start because it’s not like that. It’s not that easy,” said Julia. “You have to start going out, see if you can get a boat, all from scratch.”
The Diaz family said they lost everything from traps and ropes to boats, with lobster season right around the corner. “All you do is think, ‘What do we do now,’ you know,” Julia said. “We’re still, like, a little shaken up.”
The Diaz family does not have insurance for their business.
Officials temporarily shutdown the Overseas Highway in both directions at Mile Marker 47.5 due to fire hoses running across the road. The highway has since reopened.
At this point, it is unknown what started the fire. An investigation is underway. The Marathon Fire Marshal, State Fire Marshal and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also aiding in the investigation due to the amount of money lost.
The family has established a GoFundMe website to help in the recovery of their business, as they did not have insurance: www.gofundme.com/lobster-business-lost-in-fire.
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