Seven people were hospitalized and nine others are still missing after a boathouse caught fire overnight in Jackson County, Alabama.
Authorities with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that several people had died in the blaze but refused to give a total. Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen noted that the seven individuals who were hospitalized were receiving treatment for minor injuries, telling the Associated Press that “there were numerous people rescued from the water who had escaped by going into the water.”
He added, “We have some confirmed fatalities, but we don’t have an exact number yet. We have several people who were taken to the hospital from being in the water, and some had minor burns.”
Harnen explained that the missing people will not be presumed dead until a full search has been completed. “They had slips here,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they’re in the water, and it doesn’t mean they’re dead. We’re making attempts to find them.”
The department also released a statement urging people to stay away from the area, writing, “Due to ongoing firefighting/rescue operations, please avoid the areas around Jackson County Park, both land and water, until further notified.”
WATCH: Sun is up and we’re getting a much better look at the devastation from the overnight fire at the Jackson County Marina. Investigators are still working to determine how many fatalities there are. @waff48 pic.twitter.com/jq26MIJyw2
— Eric Graves WAFF 48 (@ReporterEric) January 27, 2020
BREAKING: Fatal fire at Jackson County Marina. Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Necklaus tells me he can not confirm the number of dead yet, but 7 people were taken to the hospital and 35 boats are a total loss. Much more information on this devastating fire coming on @waff48 Today. pic.twitter.com/tTB0JoVQvj
— Eric Graves WAFF 48 (@ReporterEric) January 27, 2020
At least 35 boats were completely destroyed in the blaze. In addition to searching for survivors, authorities are working to clean spilled fuel from the destroyed vessels out of the water.
