Detroit BobLo boat Ste. Claire fire
07/06/18 Detroit, MI - A welder sparked a blaze that heavily damaged the historic BobLo boat. The boat was one of two that ferried people to and from the Boblo Island Amusement Park. Firefighters were hampered by lack of hydrants in the area as well as the long response of the fireboat Curtiss Randolph. The fire quickly grew fanned by the winds off of the Detroit River. The boat was destroyed at its mooring.
Diane,
Please find a photo submission from my trip to Detroit. The significance of these photos and fire are that it was on a historic boat, one hundred and eight years old being restored at the Riverside Marina. The Boblo boat, SS Ste. Claire, was a steamship, constructed of wood with a steel hull. It along with it's older sister ship Columbia ferried passengers to Boblo island, an amusement park, in Ontario, Canada. The two are the last ones remaining of this type of construction. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The fire occurred on the morning of July 6th, shortly before noon. The boat was moored and being restored. The fire quickly spread, fanned by winds off of the Detroit River and fueled by extremely old and rotted wood. Detroit firefighters were hampered by long hose lays requiring two engine companies to complete the hose lay from the nearest hydrant to the dock. Firefighters then had to hand stretch onto the dock to reach the boat. The fireboat, Curtiss Randolph, was dispatched on the initial assignment. Due to its age and distance needed to get there from its berth, its response time was almost a half hour. Firefighters also tried to draft out of the river, but were unsuccessful. The fire was caused by a welders torch.
Read MoreDiane,
Please find a photo submission from my trip to Detroit. The significance of these photos and fire are that it was on a historic boat, one hundred and eight years old being restored at the Riverside Marina. The Boblo boat, SS Ste. Claire, was a steamship, constructed of wood with a steel hull. It along with it's older sister ship Columbia ferried passengers to Boblo island, an amusement park, in Ontario, Canada. The two are the last ones remaining of this type of construction. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The fire occurred on the morning of July 6th, shortly before noon. The boat was moored and being restored. The fire quickly spread, fanned by winds off of the Detroit River and fueled by extremely old and rotted wood. Detroit firefighters were hampered by long hose lays requiring two engine companies to complete the hose lay from the nearest hydrant to the dock. Firefighters then had to hand stretch onto the dock to reach the boat. The fireboat, Curtiss Randolph, was dispatched on the initial assignment. Due to its age and distance needed to get there from its berth, its response time was almost a half hour. Firefighters also tried to draft out of the river, but were unsuccessful. The fire was caused by a welders torch.
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