Couple Homeless after Losing Boat in Yacht Club Fire

The blaze that destroyed at least five boats and sank three also left a couple that was living on their boat homeless, club members confirmed on Sunday.

More than 40 firefighters responded to the scene and had to wear oxygen packs as they battled the fire that sent plumes of toxic smoke from burning fiberglass and diesel.

One firefighter fell through planks on the dock up to his thighs, said Dep. Fire Chief Paul Valletta, and the fire took a total of three hours to be fully extinguished. Another firefighter was hurt when he was struck in the back by a hose. Along with a civilian who suffered chest pains, but nobody was seriously injured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and crews worked through Sunday to manage oil and fuel in the water. Clean Harbors was on site with along with the United States Coast Guard and the state Department of Environmental Management with booms to collect the chemicals, but the scope of the environmental impact is still uncertain as vessels remained underwater Sunday night.

Robert O'Brien, the club's commodore, told the Providence Journal that members are in shock and named the boats damaged or sunk: Barefoot Bob, Main Course, Unstable, Headhunter, Naughty Carl.

“Some of them are having a very, very difficult time,” he said. “They’re in shock. It’s everything they have.”

Damage is estimated to cost millions.