Marina Fire
From Fire Chief Sandor:
At 12:45 AM on February 22, 2025 New Rochelle Fire Department was dispatched to 583 Davenport Avenue, Imperial Yacht Club, for a boat fire. Multiple calls came in to 911; units saw heavy smoke in the area while en route. At the time of arrival units determined that it would be better to initiate fire attack from Town Dock Rd. off Pelham Rd. As FD units were beginning operations, they were advised that there was a mother and school aged child in a car who had been on one of the boats and may need medical attention. NRFD members initiated care and called for an ambulance. Ambulance transported the mother and child to Jacobi Hospital, where they were treated. Their condition is unknown at this time.
As fire suppression operations progressed, fire boats were requested. New Rochelle Harbormaster arrived and worked to coordinate that fleet detail. As burning boats began to drift across Davenport Neck, additional FD units were deployed to Imperial Yacht Club on Davenport Ave. and initiated attack operations there.
The objective of the firefight from the docks was to prevent radiant heat from causing neighboring boats to ignite, some of which were 2 – 3 feet away. The New Rochelle Fire Department firmly stood their ground and had all fires under control in approximately two hours, saving dozens of boats in the process. Also needs to be mentioned Port Washington Marine Unit answered our call and had a positive impact on operations, along with New Rochelle Police Harbor Unit. FDNY Marine Unit answered the call as well, but arrived after fires were out.
Seven boats total are destroyed. The New Rochelle Harbormaster is working with the US Coast Guard and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to address the spill of fuel and other contaminants into the water, as well as salvage of the destroyed boats. Cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.