Tourist Boat Fire Off Miami Beach

A terrifying incident unfolded recently when a group of vacationers from Nebraska had a close call on a boat tour in Florida. A video captured the moment a 40-foot vessel, dubbed “Size Matters,” erupted in flames just before 11 a.m. on Thursday, while the group was around 400 meters from the shore near Miami Beach.

Peter Fink, the boat’s owner, described it as a gathering of several boats, feeling almost like a poker run. But, things took a dramatic turn when they detected a burning smell coming from their boat.

“I caught a whiff of smoke, slowed down, and soon realized our boat was on fire,” Fink recounted.

Witnesses documented the vessel ablaze, with thick plumes of black smoke rising into the sky. In a frantic response, Fink and his passengers attempted to extinguish the flames using fire extinguishers. However, as the situation worsened, they decided to abandon ship and signaled for help from nearby boats.

Passenger Jason James recalled, “We fired a little bit of the fire extinguisher into the air to alert others, and thankfully, they came to our aid. They were fantastic.” A rescue vessel arrived swiftly and helped all passengers to safety, with everyone working together to ensure a safe evacuation.

After securing the group, Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue teams, which responded both by air and sea, took over the situation and later towed the burned boat to Haulover Bay. Remarkably, no one was injured during the ordeal. Fink expressed relief, noting, “Fortunately, no one fell in or had to jump overboard, so all is well.”

Passenger Irelyn James shared her thoughts: “We have our heroes here, saving us and getting us onto other boats.” Despite the destruction of the boat, the family’s belongings were retrieved intact, allowing them to continue their trip, which coincided with a birthday celebration.

As for the cause of the fire, officials have yet to determine what sparked the flames, but no injuries were reported, as confirmed by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.