Cause of Honolulu Harbor boat fire was unattended stove during Customs inspection
DENNIS ODA / doda@staradvertiser.com
Firefighters battle a fire aboard the St. Peter fishing vessel Thursday in Honolulu Harbor.
Honolulu Fire Department investigators have determined that the cause of the boat fire in Honolulu Harbor on Thursday was accidental and due to unattended cooking.
They estimated damage to the boat and its contents at $360,000.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel were inspecting the boat when a neglected stove caught fire.
The St. Peter, is a 40-foot, American-flagged fishing vessel that had been moored at Pier 16 when HFD received reports of the fire.
The first HFD unit to arrive found thick black smoke coming from the left side of the vessel, HFD said.
A tugboat also assisted by using its firefighting turret.
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The blaze was under control at 2:49 p.m. and extinguished at 3:32 p.m.
The Coast Guard said two pollution responders were dispatched to the scene to assess any possible environmental impacts, but there were no reports of any pollution.
