NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) – The Portsmouth Fire Department and the Coast Guard responded to a boat fire under the Newport Pell Bridge Sunday afternoon.
The first reports of the fire came in around 2:30 p.m.
Heavy smoke could be seen billowing from the fire as Portsmouth’s rescue boat was en route. According to a tweet from the Portsmouth Fire Department, it took their marine crew thirty-two minutes to reach the boat fire.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrew Barresi tells Eyewitness News a good Samaritan got everybody off of the burning vessel before rescue crews arrived.
The Coast Guard put up a safety zone in the area to make sure no other boats got close to the burning one.
