Video: Tugboat Catches Fire Off Florida

On Friday, the tugboat Thomas Dunn caught fire and burned several miles off of Fort Matanzas, Florida. 

Her six crewmembers abandoned ship safely into a life raft and were rescued by a fishing vessel. 

A Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Clearwater and a county fire department helicopter also responded to the scene. 

The Coast Guard did not describe the cause of the fire, but local media reported that two fireballs had been observed from shore. So far there are no reports of pollution; the Dann has a fuel capacity of 68,000 gallons, plus 700 gallons of lube oil.

Her AIS transmission ceased late Friday, and aerial imagery showed her wheelhouse on fire. 

The Dann was involved in an earlier accident in 2012, when a crane on a barge it was towing struck repair scaffolding on the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. No damage to the bridge occurred. 

The 1975-built Dann (ex-name Yobouca Service) is owned by Dann Ocean Towing of Tampa. The firm was not immediately available for comment on the fire or on response measures. 

Photos courtesy Flagler County Fire Flight