Boat catches fire near Edison Bridge

Reporter: Morgan Rynor Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
The remains of a boat fire off the Edison Bridge. Credit: WINK News

A family is without a home after their sailboat went up in flames early Tuesday.

The fire happened at around 6:20 a.m. and caused two sailboats to burn. It happened near the Edison Bridge in downtown Fort Myers.

Investigators with the Fort Myers Police Department said arson is suspected in the boat fire.

One of the boats that caught fire was abandoned. The other was home to a man and his 14-year-old daughter.

The two were uninjured in the fire.

They spent Tuesday packing up what was left of their belongings and plan to head back to Arkansas.

Fort Myers police said they suspect someone intentionally set the boat on fire.

The flames were visible to drivers as they crossed the bridge.

“It happened so fast, I did not expect it to happen that fast,” said William Johnson, who lived on the boat. “I was just mainly worried about getting my daughter to safety.”

When the fire began the two went into panic mode.

“I got her on the other boat and I told her to go down to the cubby hole on the deck boat,”  Johnson said.

Johnson tried to disconnect the electricity and grabbed what he couldn’t afford to lose.

“I knew to get off the boat quick,” Johnson said. “I went to go on to my deck boat and then all of a sudden I got blown over onto my deck boat.”

The two were able to get off the boat safely.

“We’re going to be OK,” he said. “And my faith in the lord is very good.”

Johnson said he will return home.

“Just bought new wardrobe for me and her and everything is gone now. We’re going to have to get everything again,” he added.

Johnson said he is happy his daughter is alive but he also feels fortunate because he bought boat insurance this week which kicked in right away.

 

 

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