An inflatable dinghy wrecked and caught fire near Beef Island Saturday night, sending three of its passengers to the hospital, police said.
The boat, which belonged to the Lion Share, a 130-foot vessel anchored near Scrub Island, struck rocks near the northern end of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport runway, throwing two of its occupants into the sea, according to a press release from Police Information Officer Diane Drayton.
One of the occupants released a warning flare, which fell back into the boat, causing an explosion and fire, according to the release.
Three of the boat’s four occupants were treated at Peebles Hospital and released, according to police.
“We did respond to a call of a small vessel on fire,” said Deputy Chief Fire Officer William Penn. “We did extinguish it.”
The fire officers also helped emergency medical technicians from the hospital aid the injured boaters, he said.
Mr. Penn said there are generally between four and 12 boat fires in the Virgin Islands every year, with seven reported in 2010. He advised boaters to ensure their boats have no spilled fuel or oily rags that might catch fire on board, and to have proper safety equipment on hand.
“They should always have a fire extinguisher on board and know how to use that,” he said.