NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — August 22, 2012 — A fire Tuesday aboard the fishing vessel Patience was accidentally ignited by welders, the owner said.
Welders working in the vessel's wheelhouse sparked the fire, said Charley Quinn, the owner, who also said he couldn't estimate the damage.
Fire Chief Michael Gomes said it's possible that the blaze was caused by welders, but officially he said the cause and the point of origin remain under investigation. There were no injuries reported in the fire.
The call came in about 11:10 a.m. and it was initially reported that the 101-foot vessel was on fire with men onboard.
Heavy smoke was billowing from below deck for about 30 minutes as the vessel was docked at the EPA facility in the North End of the harbor. The fire was out at 11:40 a.m.
"It was a quick knockdown, which was good," Gomes said. "The guys did a good job."
However, clothing and equipment for six firefighters has to either be replaced or cleaned before they can go back to a fire scene, after the men were showered with diesel fuel, he said.
Some of the clothing and equipment was contaminated when part of the fuel system burst, according to the chief.
Gomes said the department is still determining the damage and he doesn't know the cost. Typically, it costs $2,100 to clothe a firefighter, he said.
"Luckily, it didn't ignite when they were doused," he said. "We have six men who are out of service. The equipment and clothing has to be cleaned or replaced before they go back to a fire scene."
Read the full story in the New Bedford Standard Times