April 24--FORT LAUDERDALE -- One person was hospitalized Wednesday morning after two boats caught fire in a residential area near downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue was called to 77 Hendricks Isle shortly after 7:30 a.m., according to city spokesman Matt Little.
Arriving crews found a 35-foot-long sailboat fully ablaze with flames spreading to a second 35-foot-long vessel. Firefighters began attacking the fire with foam and water, Little said.
One person was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, he said.
Joanne Jackson was in her home across the canal when the incident happened.
"I heard a boom, felt the house shake and I heard screaming," she said.
Jackson said she went outside and called 911 from her portable telephone and described the light smoke she was seeing at the time. Shortly after hanging up, the fire quickly began to spread.
"The flames spread very quickly, in less than a minute the boat was engulfed," Jackson said. Seconds later, she noticed the flames jumping to the second boat, she said.
The dock where the fire broke out is located along Northeast 19th Avenue north of Las Olas Boulevard.
If you can safely send photos or video of the incident, please email them to [email protected].
This developing story will be updated throughout the morning.
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