A major fire broke out at the Danish marina in Årøsund, destroying at least six yachts and several boathouses. According to the Danish water sports portal Minbaad.dk, the first report was received by the police at 8.15 pm. By that time, several boats and boathouses were already ablaze. Thick smoke was billowing over the marina area.
Cause of the fire still unknown
The police urged members of the public to avoid the area as far as possible so as not to hinder the emergency services in their work. Initially, there was no information available regarding the cause of the fire.
More than five boats have been completely burnt out
The day after the fire, the extent of the damage became clear. An eyewitness told the Danish news portal Minbaad.dk that six or seven boats had been completely burnt out. At least two further yachts are reported to have been written off. In addition, six or seven boathouses were destroyed.
The port operator confirmed on its website that all the boathouses in row D, along with the boats stored inside them, were completely destroyed. The harbour’s own tractor and a transport trolley fitted with lifting gear and straps were also destroyed by the fire. Footage from eyewitnesses shows the scale of the fire, with flames several metres high and heavy smoke.
The fire brigade battled for over six hours
It was not until Saturday morning that the fire was finally brought under control. There is as yet no definitive list of the boats that have been damaged or destroyed, nor is there a reliable estimate of the total damage.
Despite the considerable damage to boats, buildings and port equipment, there have been no reports of injuries so far.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way
The South Jutland Police announced on Saturday morning that the cause of the fire remained unknown. The affected port area has been cordoned off. Fire investigators are due to examine the area in more detail later this week to determine the possible cause of the major fire.
The harbour operator has urged the boat owners affected to notify their insurance companies as soon as possible and to document the damage sustained with photographs. Until the authorities give the all-clear, neither boats nor any other items may be removed from the scene of the fire.
German property owners have also been affected by the devastating fire. It is now important to document the damage to your own property and report it to your insurance company. To do this, you should take clear, detailed photographs of the damage.
We explain how you can protect your boat from fire damage in our special article on Working safely in the winter storage facility.
What those affected need to do now:
- Documentation of the damage with detailed photographs that clearly illustrate the extent of the damage
- detailed description of the damage
- List of damages (list of damages)
- Perhaps some quotes for replacements have already been obtained
- Do not assign any claims against the insurer to third parties
- Gather all invoices relating to the claim
Book recommendation
Yacht accidents By Jan-Erik Kruse, this book covers, amongst other things, fires and explosions on board. Drawing on accident reports analysed from around the world, the book explains typical causes and sequences of accidents. It also addresses risk management, emergency communications and the influence of human errors in judgement. On the subject of boat fires, the book thus provides an in-depth analysis: skippers and crew learn to assess risks more effectively and prevent accidents.
Have you ever been affected by a fire? Please share your experiences in the comments.
Tom Stender
Redakteur
