7th Coast Guard District
U.S. Coast Guard
News Release
**Photo Available** Coast Guard responds to boat fire in Florida Keys
28-foot boat in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Fla., engulfed in flames
MARATHON, Fla. -- The Coast Guard, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Marathon Fire Department responded to a boat fire on an anchored boat in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Fla., Sunday morning.
Coast Guard search-and-rescue watchstanders received a call around 1:30 a.m. stating one of the vessels at anchor in Boot Key Harbor was on fire and already engulfed in flames.
The Coast Guard responded immediately by issuing an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launching a boatcrew from Station Marathon. MCSO and the MFD responded to the area by land.
The boatcrew from Station Marathon arrived on scene and verified that the only person aboard, Thomas Sporborg, 60, was able to get off and was being assisted by MCSO and the MFD units on scene. Local EMS arrived on scene and took Sporborg to Fisherman's Hospital to be checked out.
Sporborg was listed in stable condition at Fisherman's Hospital.
Around 3:30 a.m., MFD units were able to actively engage the fire. By about 4:30 a.m., the fire was reported to be extinguished and the vessel was still afloat and at anchor.
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