Bellingham Marina FireMarch 30, 2012

2 FATALITIES 12 BOATS DESTROYED

Incident Timeline – March 30, 2012

05:26:55 – Initial caller - 215 North State Street “Fire in the Marina area”… “Spreading incredibly fast” “Massive, Massive Fire” “It’s about doubled in size since I’ve been on

the phone with you” and estimates fire is 200 feet long

Incident Timeline – March 30, 2012

Second caller… 05:28:54 Boat owner located in E-Dock area

G-dock boathouse on fire “Heard two explosions” “The whole place is on fire” “The entire row of boathouses” “We’re going to get out of here” “There are live-aboards in there… on the end…I

have no idea what condition they are in.” Fire units were being dispatched while this call

takes place

Multiple Additional Calls

Within seconds; South Hill Local industries Reports of victims trapped on boat Trapped victims calling 911 Dispatchers handling multiple calls and

verifying exact location of fire and victim status.

Fire Location

Fire Location

Photograph of the west end of the G-Dock East boathouse. Taken approximately 05:35 a.m. by second caller who was on E-Dock about 400 feet away from fire.

Photograph courtesy of South Whatcom Fire Authority. Image shows fire looking from west, taken after 2nd alarm units arrived, approximately 20-30 minutes after initial alarm.

Marina Fires Grow Fast…Really Fast

Early detection makes all the difference in controlling marina fires: Smoke/heat detectors Alarms and alarm monitoring Engineered fire protection features (Sprinklers

and/or venting/blocking systems)

Joint Effort Second alarm resources

Fire department off-duty staff Multiple Whatcom County fire agencies

Bellingham Police Coast Guard Department of Ecology Port of Bellingham Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

agents Support Officers

Ongoing Incident Until proven otherwise the site had to be treated as a crime scene Search warrant issued

Put all salvage operations under Command Everything video taped, photographed and cataloged as potential

evidence Support officers worked with families. Managing the press was challenging…answers take awhile

Unified Command 12-hour operational periods Appoint Command Staff & Section Chiefs

Six Planning Section Chiefs used in 30-days Set meeting schedule Port assumes financial responsibility for

salvage and clean-up Complete an ICS 201 Incident Briefing

Identify initial objectives Incident Action Plans developed for each

period Information released was approved by IC’s

Spill Response 400 barrels of petroleum recovered 1300 barrels of oily liquids recovered 110 yards of oily solids and fire debris

recovered Decontamination of barges, docks, boom,

etc. completed 24 days after the fire. Twelve 30-yard dumpsters of

miscellaneous debris were not disposed of until mid-August

11 of the vessels still remain stored as evidence

Cause and Origin Bellingham Fire and Bellingham Police

conducted a joint investigation April 10th Agents from ATF join local

investigators Due to the extensive fire damage and

submersion the cause and origin of the fire remain undetermined

Insurance representatives continue to investigate

Lessons Learned Timing and conditions of this fire meant

we were far behind before our arrival. Luck and multi-agency fire-fighting

actions prevented even further damage and loss.

Incident highlighted need to work with Port and boat owners on improving fire prevention, detection and suppression.

Draft Marina Fire Code Changes Maximum quantity of fuel that can be

stored in boathouses (excluding vessel fuel) Ongoing inspection process Establish exiting requirements Increase standpipe fire flow volume Installation of smoke/heat vents in all

existing/new boathouses Installation of fire sprinklers in boathouses

greater than 2500 sq. ft. Interlocal agreement between Port and City

on purchase and operation of a fireboat