Fire Damages Boat at Honokohau Harbor

West Hawaii Today

A fire ignited by an engine compartment explosion damaged a sportfishing vessel Saturday morning at Honokohau Marina and Small Boat Harbor in North Kona, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

The boat, identified through photos submitted to West Hawaii Today, was within the harbor’s boat launch ramp when the reported explosion occurred about 7 a.m., according to the fire department. Bystanders, including other boaters, had put out the blaze using fire extinguishers prior to arrival of firefighters based out of the Kailua Fire Station.

Chuck Wilson, captain of the vessel Fire Hatt, and a Retired Fire Chief Officer reported that his deckhand, Adam Ludwig, used two of their boat’s fire extinguishers to snuff the blaze. Wilson also stated that a man, identified as the boat’s owner, was able to flee the boat without injury. His sons were near the vehicle when the explosion occurred; neither was injured.

Featured in the photo is First Mate Adam Ludwig from the Vessel FIRE HATT extinguishing the blaze.