UPDATE: Two Boats, Hydrohoist Sink in Fire at Patchogue Marina

A reported explosion at a Patchogue marina destroyed two boats and one hydrohoist Monday afternoon, fire officials said.

Two people on one of the boats, docked at the West Bank Marina and Yacht Club off River Avenue, jumped off to safety before the boats went up in flames, sources at the scene said.

Two Patchogue firefighters were transported to the hospital to be treated for minor heat-related injuries, officials said.

The cause of the fire, which began around 1:40 p.m., is under investigation, although sources at marina said the explosion may have been caused by leaking gas vapors. 

The was on the scene four minutes after receiving a call and two boats were “fully involved” in fire when firefighters arrived, according to Patchogue Fire Deputy Chief Matt Cordaro. 

Cordaro said two mechanics were working on one of the boats, described as a 36-foot yacht, when it ignited.

Alan Payne, of Patchogue, was working inside Al’s Marine Service, just across the dock from the sunk boats, Monday afternoon when he said he heard a “loud explosion and then just a big ball of flames and then the two boats next to it caught on fire.” 

Payne said someone was starting a boat and then “it just blew up.”  

Other witnesses said they heard several loud pops before seeing a boat covered in flames.

Maria Farruggia, 36, of Patchogue, was watching the smoke from across the river with her son.

“You couldn’t see through the smoke, it was pitch black,” Farruggia said of the scene when she arrived.

It took about an hour to put out the flames, according to Patchogue Fire Chief Joe Perry.

The structures all sank in the 5-10 feet of water in the Patchogue River, officials said. A fourth boat was damaged in the fire. The destroyed boats were a speed boat and a carved style boat.

Sections of the dock sustained moderate to severe damage from the fire, officials said.

Several fire departments were called to the scene, including Bayport, Blue-Point, Bellport and Hagerman.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Story updated at 10:29 p.m.