A YACHT UP IN FLAMES.

THEMASSIVE FIRE SEEN FROM MILESAWAY.

AND WHY IT EXTENDED AVACATION FOR HUNDREDS OFPEOPLEBURNING..

NOW*12 HOURS AFTERIT BEGAN.

FIREFIGHTERS SAYTHEY FINALLY GOT IT UNDERCONTROL..

BUT THEY EXPECT TOKEEP AN EYE ON IT ALL NIGHT.NEWSCHANNEL FIVE'S ARTHURMONDALE JOINS US LIVE FROMRIVERA BEACH WITH WHY ITSTAKEN SO LONG TO EXTINGUISHTHE FIRE.FIRE CREWS HAVE BEEN BATTLINGTHE FIRE SINCE 6 A-M, THESMOKE HAS FALLEN BUT THEYSTILL LAYING DOWN A LOT OFWATER.

OFFICIALS SAY THIS WASTRICKY BECAUSE OF THE LOCATIONOF THE VESSEL.<< (PKG) IT WASNEARLY MORNING JOGGER JOHNMCGREEVY EXPECTED& When I gothere I saw the fire and it wasblazing my main concern wasthat it was going to catch allthe rest of the whole Marinaand itMCGREEVY IS RECOUNTING MASSIVEFLAMES AND SMOKE EXCLUSIVELYCAPTURED BY CHOPPER FIVE OFTHE BURNING VESSEL& ONE THATTOOK FOUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS TOCONTAIN.

O We have to be verycareful and very strategic onhow we fight this fire WATSONSAYS THE VESSEL - WHICH WASUNDER REPAIR - IS SITTING ONSTILTS - AND WEDGED BETWEENTWO OTHER VESSELS&TOO MUCHWATER WOULD TIP IT AND IGNITEOTHERS.

THERE WERE ALSOCONCERNS WITH THE YACHTS FIVETANKS OF DIESEL FUEL AND AIRQUALITY..”There are a lot ofresins, there are a lot offiber glass products that giveoff toxic fumes” AND WORD OFPOSSIBLE AMMUNITION ON THEBOAT&”There are a couplehundred rounds of rifleammunition in there” WILLBECK SAYS HE WAS HIRED BY THECAPTAIN OF THE VESSEL TOINSTALL 1,000 FEET OF BARRIERBOOM TO CATCH FUEL.

BOOMFILLED WITH AN ABSORBENTMATERIAL PAD.”This is allproactive weanything like that fromhappening.

We donget away from here” ASPOKESPERSON FOR THE SOUTHEAST DISTRICT OF THEDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION HAS DEPLOYED ANEMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM WHILEFIRE OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE THECAUSE OF THE FIRE.

THE U-SCOAST GUARD IS ALSO WORKINGWITH INVESTIGATORS.

OFFICIALSALSO WONINFORMATION ON THE OWNER.”Icancontact with the owner of theboat.

Igetting the information out.More focused on making surethat our guys are doing whattheyWE'RE TOLD 40-FIRE FIGHTERSHAVE BEEN ROTATING IN SHIFTSTO CONTAIN THE FIRE&THE FIREMARSHAL WILL PICK UP THEINVESTIGATION FROM HERE.REPORTING LIVE ARTHUR MONDALEW-P-T-V NEWS CHANNEL F