At 18:14hrs on Wednesday, April 26th. Norwalk Combined 911 center received numerous calls regarding a boat on fire at Rex Marina located on Water Street.

A full assignment consisting of Engine Co. 5, Engine Co. 2, Engine Co. 1, Truck Co. 2, Rescue Co. 2, and Car 2 (shift commander) with a total of 21 Norwalk Professional Firefighters responded to the marina. While the 4 members assigned to Engine Co. 3 whom also cross-staff our Marine Unit 238 were responding on the water.

Upon arrival, two boats were found well involved at the docks; NFD companies began extinguishment efforts with handlines while on the docks prior to the arrival of NFD Marine Unit 238 and Norwalk Police Marine Units.

It was discovered that one of the vessels involved was a fully electric boat. Nationally, fires involving Lithium Ion batteries are on the rise, fires involving these battery systems are both manpower and labor intensive for fire service personnel and are difficult to extinguish.

Both boats were extinguished by NFD Local 830 members without incident and were removed from the water to avoid both vessels from sinking and causing any potential environmental impact.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by NFD Local 830 fire inspectors.