COQUINA BEACH – An explosion at Coquina Beach wasn’t planned for the Fourth of July.
The north dock at the Coquina Beach South Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach remained closed July 1 after a June 28 boat fire left the structure damaged.
West Manatee Fire Rescue administrative battalion chief Jay Johnson said June 30 the fire began when the boat engine had a “mild explosion” after launching from the ramp.
He said none of the boaters sustained injuries.
WMFR responded to the scene and sprayed “wet water” foam onto the burning boat from the north and south docks.
“Fortunately, from two different sides they got everything put out really quickly,” Johnson said. “The crew was very efficient.”
The boat ramp reopened later that day and a recovery crew removed the sunken vessel from the water.
However, the ramp’s north dock remains closed because it sustained damage when the burning boat pushed into the structure. The dock, along with much of the ramp, was rebuilt in 2015.
Johnson said Manatee County would keep the dock closed until its “structural integrity could be determined.”
“It does look like the dock has some singeing and charcoaling,” Johnson said.
Johnson said WMFR could not determine a cause for the explosion.