A tourist boat carrying vacationers from Omaha caught fire about a quarter mile off Miami Beach on Thursday morning, but all passengers were safely rescued. The 40-foot vessel, named “Size Matters,” was traveling from Fort Lauderdale to the Florida Keys when smoke was first noticed around 11 a.m.
Boat owner Peter Fink reported detecting a burning smell and quickly realizing it was their boat. Despite attempts to control the fire with an extinguisher, the flames spread rapidly. Witness video showed the five-engine vessel engulfed in flames with thick black smoke.
Passengers signaled nearby boats by firing the extinguisher into the air, attracting the attention of another boat that stopped to assist. Miami-Dade Ocean Rescue then arrived on scene to evacuate the passengers, who helped each other to safety. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived shortly after to support emergency efforts and later towed the charred boat to Haulover Inlet.
No injuries were reported, and authorities have not yet identified the fire’s cause. Remarkably, the passengers’ luggage was recovered intact from the wreckage, allowing them to continue their trip. Passenger Jason James described the rescue as heroic and expressed relief that no one had to jump into the water during the evacuation.
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