NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — The owner of a local shrimp boat and the crew members who worked on board are working to determine how to restore their livelihood after the 85-foot shrimp boat caught fire Wednesday evening.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the owner, Chris Johnson, are still assessing the damage and trying to figure out how they can safely bring the boat back to shore.
The boat remained several miles off the coast of Fernandina Beach Thursday.
“Everybody was scared, you know,” crew member Enriquez Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez and Jose Miranda were two of the three people on board the boat.
Rodriguez said he believes the engine turbo may have caused the fire, though the official cause is still under investigation.
Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:
- Retired MMA fighter charged with assaulting girlfriend
- Social-media users are hitting a brick wall when it comes to this viral optical illusion
- Mom claims child was left bleeding from injury at Starke day care
- Oops! Congressional candidate accidentally posts screenshot with NSFW tabs
- Columbia County organizes prom for handicapped students
[ More popular and trending stories ]
“It’s burned beyond repair, I believe,” Johnson said. “It can put you out of business really.”
Johnson said he is grateful no one was hurt.
“That’s the most important thing, that you’re here to see another day,” Johnson said. “You can always replace a boat. You can’t replace a life.”
The fire has also left Rodriguez without a way to support his family.
“Not coming at a good time for my family,” Rodriguez said. “Look for another job. Maybe Alabama, Mississippi.”
Rodriguez said there were around 8,000 pounds of shrimp on board the boat, and they are hoping to salvage it because it was stored in a freezer.