Posted on 01/28/2020 2:15:57 AM PST by Libloather
At least eight people have died after an explosive fire broke out along the Tennessee River in Alabama and it could take authorities four days to recover all victims, authorities have said.
At least 35 boats docked along the Tennessee River were destroyed by the blaze at Lake Guntersville, Jackson around 12.30am Monday but authorities said divers need to locate each one and search them individually to be sure.
All eight people who were earlier reported missing were confirmed dead, later on Monday morning and a local fire chief said 'that number could go up, because we don't know how many were on boats' that sank.
At least seven people were sent to hospitals suffering from exposure to the frigid water or the flames. The fire quickly consumed the dock as people were sleeping, cutting off their escape routes and raining debris.
'We woke up hearing screams and popping noises,' Mandy Durham told the Associated Press. 'When we woke up, we could see red through the window.
'Within 15 to 20 minutes, the whole dock was in flames. All these boats have propane tanks and gas tanks, and that’s a lot of fire.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Imagine a family of six living on a boat docked at a marina.
Seven.
When I lived in Georgia the marina at Lake Lanier had houseboats that could easily accommodate a family of 6.
Houseboats, apparently.
Must have been a lot of burning fuel in the water which quickly engulfed the boats.
I’ve been on a houseboat like that at Lanier. There are fleets of serious high-end houseboats up there.
Now, I’ve also seen some pretty janky home built houseboats up at Blue Ridge Lake. I’m fairly certain those and their owners were part of the genesis of the Adult Swim cartoon Squidbillies. The guys who started that show had some ties to Blue Ridge.
In any case prayers up for all involved in this horrible event.
I believe this to be a picture of the area that burned. There's nothing approaching a huge yacht. The biggest boat there probably has only half the living space of a trailer in a trailer park. I'm aware that a bigger boat could have come in since that picture was taken, but those slips are not big enough to accommodate big boats.
Dreadful. RIP.
Al Gore’s houseboat is 100 feet long. Big enough for the whole family of grifters.
I just find it incredible that seven people could live on a boat, not just ‘day tripping’.
I grew up near there, and for a bit, lived less than 4 miles from this place. It is not uncommon to encounter families living on boats, travelling from marina to marina. They are mostly just unconventional folk, with a TREASURE TROVE of experience and stories. Most of the ones with kids home school and their children are delightful, with a view of life that is so different than the stale, predictable well of poison that vomits up from “normal” life among their peers.
There is a kind of “boat gypsy” culture that comes with these folks, which you can only know if you hang out with them a bit. Unconventional, outside the box, composed of everything from tax dodgers to wanderlusts to social deviants to pious Christians to people who just want to find a less strictured and structured lifestyle. I find them delightful.
I find myself wishing that I had such a heritage growing up. Empathy for those who died and/or lost all possessions.
Interesting post. Thanks.
Marinas and big boats are fire magnates, but there rarely seems to be a death.
Al Gore owns a 100’ yacht?? Hope it’s electric, my 23’ can burn near 50 gallons if we run it all day, hate to see what his does.
excellent comment!!
It’s OK since Gore runs his on bio-diesel.
Sad state ping
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