Marina Fire North Shore Marina Grand Haven MI (100' from my boat)

[spartonboat1]

Here is a link to a Marina fire, inside two of the several storage buildings, on the grounds of the North Shore Marina, Spring Lake/Ferrysburg/Grand Haven, MI, on Sat, Mar 23, 2013. An owner was doing electrical repairs and "lit a torch" (don't know what that means) and caused an explosion, fire, and damage to at least two boats. He was badly burned, including bleeding, loss of all facial hair and other burns.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/03/man_seriously_burned_in_boat_e.html

My boat is on the far left in pic 3 and far right, under the smoke, in pic 4. I am stored outside under a fitted beige canvas.

There are videos, so I will try to post them.

I went over Sun to take a look and a guard was posted and not allowing anyone on the property. He was posted by the Police, plus while I was there, the USCG came in .

Since they may take the post down, here is the text.
SPRING LAKE, MI – A man suffered serious burns after a boat exploded and caught fire inside a large storage building at North Shore Marina in Spring Lake on Saturday.

North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
Enlarge Stephen Kloosterman | sklooste@mlive.com Smoke billows from North Shore Marina in Spring Lake on Saturday, March 23, after a boat exploded and caught fire inside. North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013 gallery (10 photos)

North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013

The man was working on a boat when an explosion occurred, according to Grand Haven Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke. He was not sure whether the victim owned the boat he was working on or an employee of the marina.

More than 30 firefighters from several Grand Haven-area fire departments responded to the fire shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23. Heavy smoke was still billowing out the 80,000-square-foot storage building at the business on the north side of the Grand Haven Channel on Saturday afternoon.

The explosion and fire occurred in the back corner of a storage building at North Shore, which is located in the 18000 block of Berwyck St. near North Shore Drive. Hawke said firefighters encountered near-zero visibility when they entered the building to attack the flames and had difficulty determining which boats were actually on fire.

The metal-frame building was packed with boats in winter storage.

“It was an unusual fire because it's a large building with many boats,” he said.

Hawke said three boats were damaged in the explosion and ensuing fire. He described all three as large pleasure boats. Many others likely had some smoke damage.

In addition to the damaged boats, Hawke said the building also suffered extensive structural damage. Firefighters had to cut holes in the roof to ventilate smoke while the fire significant damaged the frame and metal siding.

Firefighters attacked the fire in shifts before declaring the blaze under control around 2:30 p.m.

While battling the blaze, firefighters were concerned about oily runoff from the water they were using to extinguish the fire. They erected dikes on land to try containing the runoff and the U.S. Coast Guard deployed containment booms in the Grand Haven Channel to keep the oily liquid from spreading in the water.

Coast Guard officials were on the scene advising firefighters on how to contain the runoff.

The victim was transported to North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven for treatment of his burns. His condition was not immediately known and Hawke did not release the man's name Saturday afternoon.

Hawke said the investigation into what caused the explosion would begin after the fire was completely extinguished.

A dollar value of the damage was not available Saturday.

The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, along with the Crockery Township, Ferrysburg, Grand Haven Township, Robinson Township and Spring Lake fire departments were on the scene.

 

[spartonboat1]

More text, different article.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/03/boat_explosion_fire_damages_no.html

SPRING LAKE, MI – A boat exploded and caught fire inside a Spring Lake marina on Saturday, causing significant damage to the building.

More than 30 firefighters from three Grand Haven-area fire departments responded to North Shore Marina on the Grand Haven Channel late Saturday morning. Heavy smoke was still billowing out the 80,000-square-foot storage building at the business Saturday afternoon.

The marina is located in the 18000 block of Berwyck Street near North Shore Drive on the north side of the Grand Haven Channel. The business offers boat slip rentals, boat storage and a full range of repair services, according to its website.

Warren Potter of Tailored Building Systems in Grand Rapids said he was asked to come repair a hole that firefighters cut in the roof to help ventilate the smoke.

There was no immediate word on what may have sparked the blaze or how many boats were damaged inside the building.

The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, along with the Spring Lake and Ferrysburg fire departments were on the scene.

 

[spartonboat1]

Owners not allowed to do work inside, per another owner.

Link and text.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/03/north_shore_marina_boat_owner.html

SPRING LAKE, MI – A man seriously burned when the boat he was working on exploded at North Shore Marina on Saturday likely wasn't following the facility's safety rules, according to a fellow boat owner.

North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
Enlarge Stephen Kloosterman | sklooste@mlive.com Smoke billows from North Shore Marina in Spring Lake on Saturday, March 23, after a boat exploded and caught fire inside. North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013 gallery (10 photos)

North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013
North Shore Marina fire in Spring Lake March 23, 2013

The fire, which spread to three boats and took hours for firefighters to control, ignited just before 11 a.m. March 23 at North Shore Marina in Spring Lake.

Related: Man seriously burned in boat explosion, fire at North Shore Marina in Spring Lake

North Shore Marina customer Ken Kuzma, who has boats stored elsewhere on the property, said it’s against marina rules to work on boats indoors.

“That’s a rule for the marina,” he said. “You can clean and that sort of thing, but not repairs. It’s just too dangerous, because of things like this.”

Kuzma, who lives nearby to the marina, had walked over to see who had been hurt in the fire and if the building on fire was the one that contained his two boats.

He was relieved to discover the boats were safe, but said his main concern was the person who had been hurt. After using the marina for 25 years, “you get to know a lot of the people,” he said.

Concerned boat owners were joined by a few curious onlookers who assembled at the scene. Among the first to arrive was Ferrysburg’s Devin Miles, who arrived at the scene before several of the emergency responders.

“Everyone got on the scene pretty quickly,” said Miles, who admitted to being a bit of a “thrill seeker.”

 

[hromberg]

I use a little crack torch looking thing with a curved flame deflector to heat shrink electrical connectors. No way in hell I'd spark it up inside a boat storage building though. All those vented gas tanks and flammables....... Yikes. He's lucky he didn't burn the whole place down.

 

[Avenger]

That's what I figured they meant by "lit a torch." Heat guns work much better on heatshrink anyway, gas boat or not.

I'm sure it's a relief that your boat is okay.

 

[tom5518]

From the Grand Haven Tribune:

Assessing the damage
An explosion at a North Shore Marina storage building on Saturday has put summer plans off-course for some of the owners of boats that were stored there.
MARIE HAVENGA
GRAND HAVEN
MAR 26, 2013


Grand Haven Fire Marshal Jay Paulson said total damages from the fire will likely exceed $1 million. He said all of the 80 boats inside the building at the time suffered smoke damage.

A Grand Rapids man was hurt in the incident. Michael Rosencrance, 56, was taken by ambulance to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids with serious burns. He was listed in fair condition Monday, but hospital officials said they could provide no more information at the request of his family.

Grand Haven Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke said he has not yet talked to Rosencrance.

“We are going to wait until that is possible, then we will talk to him to get a detailed statement,” the chief said.

Hawke said Rosencrance was doing minor electrical repairs on his 42-foot Carver on Saturday morning when he apparently ignited a torch that caused the explosion shortly before 11 a.m.

Hawke said Rosencrance was able to get himself out of the building after the explosion. He suffered “serious burns, but is expected to be OK," Hawke said.

Paulson said Rosencrance's boat and two other nearby 40-plus-foot vessels were “totaled” in the explosion at the marina, 18275 Berwyck St. The blast also blew out the back wall of the 80,000-square-foot metal building.

 

[saltshaker]

Seems like a lot of fires this year. I guess that Luhrs from Point Pleasant, NJ escaped Sandy only to get damaged from a fire.

 

[spartonboat1]

Here is a decent video of the buildings still smoking. My Hatt is in center of initial scene and under more smoke than I would like in several segments. Remains to be seen if any damage from equipment or spray from the fire suppression as was pretty good wind at the time. Thankful otherwise.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/fire-starts-in-grand-haven

Sorry about the ad...

 

[tjshuler]

My 43 Hatt is still inside that building. Marina insurance company will not allow access to owners or insurance adjusters until April 9. Then only from 10-11 am. If you or your insurance representative is not present at that 1 hour meeting, you waive all rights regarding any liability the marina / insurance company has incurred. Sounds like there is more to this story than we have been told.

Anyone want to buy a boat with "a little" smoke damage?

 

[tom5518]

My 43 Hatt is still inside that building. Marina insurance company will not allow access to owners or insurance adjusters until April 9. Then only from 10-11 am. If you or your insurance representative is not present at that 1 hour meeting, you waive all rights regarding any liability the marina / insurance company has incurred. Sounds like there is more to this story than we have been told.

Anyone want to buy a boat with "a little" smoke damage?

I think they have a big mess on their hands with this one and they are not the only one. The idiot boat owner who used a "small butane heating device" as his retained PR firm called it, has more than a little responsibility since he was the one who blew the place up. I seriously doubt that an insurance company saying if you are not at their one hour meeting means that they can absolve themselves of all responsibility would fly in a court. They do not have the ability to wave a wand and make their culpability magically disappear.

What does your insurance company say about all this? They are responsible for handling your claim and making you whole again. The question of who is liable is not really your problem. That is for the insurance companies to sort out. I would be polite but very persistent at questioning your insurance company's claim manager who is assigned to your case as to when they are going to get your boat fixed or write you a check so you can buy another one. The season is short enough around here.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

That's awful to watch and read... Sadly, I'm surprised it doesn't actually happen more often..
When we were at Palm Cove Marina back in 2000, the owner of a boat 2 slips from us was WELDING HIS GAS TANK.... full with 200 gal of gas...
Luckily someone saw what he was doing and got him to stop and the marina told him to leave that day.... phew...
Then at Cedar Point Marina we had a guy trying to drill a hole thru his hull to put a thru hull in... But the boat was still IN the water...He figured he could drill the hole then plug it FAST...
Luckily the fire dept boat was close by and able to help pump out the water before it sank.....
Sheesh

 

[Paul Gwiz]

Makes me wonder ? those peskey rules ! I believe they have them for a reason.

The marina should post this as the reason they have the rule in the first place. It's really a sad story overall .

 

[spartonboat1]

My 43 Hatt is still inside that building. Marina insurance company will not allow access to owners or insurance adjusters until April 9. Then only from 10-11 am. If you or your insurance representative is not present at that 1 hour meeting, you waive all rights regarding any liability the marina / insurance company has incurred. Sounds like there is more to this story than we have been told.

Anyone want to buy a boat with "a little" smoke damage?

Is yours the 43' MY with green canvas that was moored almost directly across from the bldg. and you are an engineer? If so, your boat was in nice shape, given the age. Otherwise, regardless, very sorry about any damage you suffered!

P.s, thanks for the note about the meeting, plus maybe I can peek inside, as well as discuss any damage I may have. At this point, I am concerned about any hits that happped from fire equipment or from future repair equipment.

 

[spartonboat1]

I called Boat US about bottom damage I suffered, when the water level fell rapidly in the fall and all my bottom paint and barrier coat was worn off down the FRP by riding on the "bottom" of the harbor, i.e. my slip. I did not leave the slip one single time last summer (?!), therefore riding on the bottom of the slip is the only think that could have happened. I probed in my slip after haul out and there was a nice "V" in the bottom where my bow was. So I need to get re-barriered and re-paint.

While I was on the ph with them, Boat US said they had quite a few calls about the fire.

 

[basha60@]

To anybody looking to buy a 43' Hatteras:

Do not bother with the one for sale at North Shore Marina (1974 Motor Yacht for $49,900). We are familiar with this boat. It was in the barn that was involved in the fire at North Shore Marina in March 2013. This boat was declared a total loss by the insurance company. North Shore bought it for salvage value and is trying to sell it. Buyer beware. The boat suffered long term damage because it sat in the barn for two months after the fire occurred covered with soot. The electronics are suspect based on the effects of being exposed to a prolonged uncontrolled fiberglass fire even though this boat did not suffer direct fire damage. The exterior and the interior of the boat had extensive soot exposure that was not cleaned up for more than three months. After the boat was cleaned, etching was present in aluminum. The paint on the boat was also compromised as a result of the fire and subsequent cleaning. And if you care, the boat is actually a 1973.

 

[SeaEric]

I just looked at the specs and photos on YachtWorld. To me it looks like a perfectly nice older boat for $49,900. Any buyer looking at a 1973 or 1974 model year boat should "beware" just on general principle. I had not noticed this boat on the market before so thanks for pointing it out to everyone.

 

[Nightingale]

Seems as though the owner posted earlier in this thread about his boat being inside.

 

[spartonboat1]

I desired to "get away" from this marina and moved to another up the lake. To say that I am much happier at the new one is an understatement. I also have some pictures of boats that were damaged, which I will post when I have time. A couple were burned to the chine...no hull left! Others also quite bad.

FWIW, this marina also had the misfortune that one the staff running the boat-lift ran her off the end of two tracks on either side of the liftout slip and into the marina harbor; into the water anyway. They wound up having divers disassemble it in the water, then lift out the pieces. I think Marine Lift in WI performed the re-assemble. I know more, but do not wish to say and risk any blow-back.

I notice the owner, or one of them, has his beautiful old 65' Roamer for sale; may just be an annual sale effort, or may be related to the fire- I don't know.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I desired to "get away" from this marina and moved to another up the lake. To say that I am much happier at the new one is an understatement. I also have some pictures of boats that were damaged, which I will post when I have time. A couple were burned to the chine...no hull left! Others also quite bad.

FWIW, this marina also had the misfortune that one the staff running the boat-lift ran her off the end of two tracks on either side of the liftout slip and into the marina,
harbor; into the water anyway. They wound up having divers disassemble it in the water, then lift out the pieces. I think Marine Lift in WI performed the re-assemble. I know more, but do not wish to say and risk any blow-back.

I notice the owner, or one of them, has his beautiful old 65' Roamer for sale; may just be an annual sale effort, or may be related to the fire- I don't know.

Quincy,
What marina are you at now?

 

[spartonboat1]

Quincy,
What marina are you at now?

Sky: Finally went to Great Lakes Marina, south side of Muskegon Lake; she was bought out and is now under Morningstar Marinas, which has a chain on the East Coast and at least one on the GL's. I know you recommended the Whitehall area, but we simply found it a tad too far to reach on a regular basis, as nice as the town and area are.

They just replaced all the planks just in front of and directly on my finger pier, so lucky/pleased in that regard. Very clean facility and the staff is cordial and knowledgeable. I have had my lifetime fill of rude, downright obnoxious marina managers, so this environment is a great relief.

I credit the manager, Jeff Covey, for building up the marina. He has always been cordial in all my inquiries over the past 3-4 years and still is. He and his wife live on site and it is behind a professional rolling chain link power gate, that is keypad controlled; real nice for nights and weekends. The regular restrooms are open until late in the fall and after that, a couple of heads are open at the gas dock. Very handy when I was over in the cold weather a couple weeks ago.

The marina has a stable group of renters and she is full up for 2014; I jumped on one of the 50' slips, which was one of final two avail. With any luck, I will be here for quite awhile.

If you enjoy that type of thing, the cross lake catamaran car ferry slips about 100' away, but you really don't hear them come and go, plus we are divided from them by chainlink fence. Another aspect I will test is that Muskegon Lake is full commercial with up to 1,000 footers in/out; so you can go full speed up and down the lake, if desired, and I see that occur.

P.s., sorry if TMI, but thanks for asking and good to hear from you! I have been very busy with many matters over the past 3 years, so silent on the SM site. But we do talk and buys things from Steve Mc.