Man Treated After Helping Douse Yacht Fire
A Garden Grove man was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach for treatment of possible smoke inhalation Tuesday after fighting an engine-room fire aboard a yacht at Newport’s Balboa Bay Club.
“I think he mitigated the fire by putting some water on it,” said Battalion Chief Ron Sutherland, a spokesman for the Newport Beach Fire Department, about the efforts of George Castro, 56.
Castro was working aboard a nearby boat shortly after noon on Tuesday when he saw smoke coming from the 56-foot yacht tied up at the club’s “A” dock at 1221 W. Coast Highway.
After calling the Fire Department, Castro twice entered the engine room to prevent the spread of the fire, according to firefighters.
“We had trouble finding it,” Sutherland said. “He was able to pinpoint it.”
Largely due to Castro’s efforts, the battalion chief said, the fire was contained to the engine room, where it caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the $1.1-million yacht.
The cause of the blaze, is under investigation, Sutherland said.
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