Boat burns in Brevard

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL, FOX 35) - The vessel was a 64 foot shrimp boat by the name of Miss Katelyn. The boat’s Captain Harry Towns knew there was trouble when he saw black smoke billowing out of the back.

“I called the Coast Guard,” said Towns, who added he knew he was in trouble. “I couldn’t go down to where the fire was because it was below deck so I couldn’t fight it.”

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Towns said he and his first mate were taking the boat from North Carolina to Louisiana. When they noticed that the fire was getting out of control they put on life vests and jumped overboard. A private boater picked them up.

According to fire officials there were two small explosions caused by two propane tanks. It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the flames. However, the exact cause of the fire still remains a mystery.