Fire destroys several boats near Simcoe, damage estimated at $1M

Damage is estimated at close to a million dollars after a fire destroyed several boats stored near Simcoe on Sunday.

Firefighters from Port Dover, Simcoe and Vittoria were called to Team Marine Ltd. around 3:30 p.m. after reports of a boat on fire behind the building.

"When the crews arrived we had three boats fully involved in fire," said Norfolk County Fire Department deputy chief Gord Stilwell.

In a series of videos posted to Twitter, OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk showed firefighters using an aerial bucket to pour water on flames, while thick smoke billowed from several boats.

The fire was tough to fight, Stilwell said, because of the fuel load and compartmentalization on the boats, which forced crews to bash holes in some of the hulls to extinguish the flames, 

Kevin Duwyn owns the boat dealer and storage facility. He said he hasn't been able to inspect the scene of the fire, but he believes six boats were destroyed by the flames and about 10 damaged in total.

When asked what message he had for people storing their boats at Team Marine, Duwyn said all owners whose crafts were damaged in the fire have been notified and "they're going through insurance, so that's it."

No injuries were reported during the fire, said Sanchuk.

"Our sympathies are going out to boat owners. Obviously these are their pride and joy, but boats can be replaced, people can't."