September 6, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 17 OCBeach Crowd Watches Crews Fight Boat Fire By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR NFL Drink Specials $1.99 Select Domestic Pints Miller Lite, High Life, Coors Light NFL Food Specials $1.99 Select Domestic Bottles Miller Lite, MGD, 64, High Life, Coors Light, Coors Original $1.99 Rail Drinks (12 oz.) NFL FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS Nachos $7.99 Regular $7.99 Taco • $9.99 Chicken $9.99 Killer $5.99 Chicken Tortilla Soup $9.99 Queso Dip $7.99 All American Hot Dog $8.99 Mexican Lasagna OCEAN CITY – Potential tragedy was averted last Saturday when a Good Samaritan arrived and took two people off a burning 46-foot sport fishing vessel that ultimately sank just a quarter-mile offshore in front of a big beach crowd. Around 3 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Communications received a call for a boat on fire in the ocean roughly in the area of 8th Street about a quarter mile off the crowded beach. Heavy black smoke poured from the burning vessel, identified as the “Sea Witch,” based out of the West Ocean City commercial harbor, as it drifted slightly north along the crowded beach. Another Ocean City-based charter boat, the “Salty Sons,” was in the area and responded quickly to remove the burning vessel’s two occupants, who were uninjured. The Ocean City Fire Department responded quickly, implementing for the first time in an official active fire capacity its new fire boat, as did the Coast Guard, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the private sector Tow Boat US. Tow Boat US Captain Greg Hall said this week he heard the mayday over the radio and responded with his company’s small boat. Hall said he was uncertain from the distress signal the magnitude of the incident and believed at first it was a smaller vessel somewhere in the vicinity of the Inlet, but soon found out it was something much larger. “We heard the mayday and jumped in our mini-boat and followed Ocean City’s fire boat out of the Inlet,” he said. “We weren’t sure what we were looking for at first, but when we rounded the rocks at the Inlet jetty and started to head north, we saw thick black smoke pouring from the burning sport fishing boat.” Hall said when he arrived on the scene right behind the Ocean City fire boat, the engine room of the “Sea Witch” was completely engulfed in flames. He said the Ocean City Fire Boat immediately began soaking the burning vessel, shooting water through the vents to the engine room and the holes that had already burned in the vessel’s fiberglass hull. Hall said he and the fire boat worked quickly to prevent the burning vessel from coming ashore on the crowded beach. Once the fire was extinguished, an attempt was made to tow the vessel, but it was taking on water through the holes in the hull and got washed over by large waves and rough seas on a couple of occasions, which essentially sealed its fate. In addition, severe damage to the boat’s systems contributed to its SEE PAGE 18 Tacos $1.99 (each) Hard or Soft Beef $8.99 Grouper or Rock Fish $9.99 NEW!!! Shrimp Tacos Quesadillas $5.99 Cheese • $7.99 Veggie $9.99 Chicken • $10.99 Pork $11.99 Beef • $13.99 Crab Burritos $11.99 Chicken $12.99 Beef • $13.99 Pork Chimichangas $11.99 Chicken $12.99 Beef • $13.99 Pork Fajitas $12.99 Chicken $13.99 Pork • $14.99 Tenderlion Mexican Pizza OCEAN CITY Since MARYLAND 1973 SNOW CRAB LEGS & CLAWS, CARVED PRIME RIB, RAW OYSTERS AND CLAMS, BBQ RIBS AND CHICKEN, FRESH FISH, STEAMED SHRIMP, FRIED SHRIMP, FOUR HOMEMADE SOUPS, FRESH SUMMER SALADS AND VEGETABLES, HOMEMADE DESSERTS AND SOFT ICE CREAM STATION AND LOTS MORE! PLENTY OF ASSORTED MEAT ITEMS FOR NON-SEAFOOD LOVERS 150 Feet Of Delicious Food The Ultimate All-You-Care-To-Eat SEAFOOD & PRIME RIB BUFFET Full a la Carte Menu • Special Selection Of Foods For Your Children, When The Kids Are Happy, So Are The Parents! Over 500 Dining Seats Items Subject To Change OPEN DAILY AT 4 P.M. 71st Street & Coastal Highway Ocean City, Md. • 410-524-7171 www.thebonfirerestaurant.com NEWLY EXPANDED WAITING AREA WITH COMFORTABLE SEATS FOR ALL. WE TRY OUR BEST TO SEAT PEOPLE PROMPTLY. FRIDAY-THURSDAY, SEPT. 6-12 4 P.M.-5 P.M. EARLY BIRD $5 OFF REGULAR ADULT BUFFET