Arson investigation launched after video shows fire destroying yachts on Miami River

Three yachts were swallowed by fires caught on see-it-to-believe-it video early Friday after witnesses described a massive explosion in northwest Miami-Dade.

The fires on the Miami River prompted a huge emergency response in the 3200 block of Northwest North River Drive and sent billowing smoke into the air that could be seen from Miami International Airport.

Authorities say they are investigating the fire as an act of arson.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said more than 30 units responded to the scene shortly after 3:30 a.m. Fire crews fought flames and flare-ups by land and water, spraying foam on the yachts described as two 60-foot vessels and one 90-foot vessel.

After a few hours, one of the yachts sunk, and another was nearly entirely submerged. The third could be seen torched and gutted; its engine area appeared to be a problem spot, as flames would go out and then rekindle.

There have been no reports of injuries, the fire department said.

Arson investigators with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were looking into the blaze. But more information about who could have possibly set the fire and how was not immediately available.

Some of the boat owners spoke to NBC6 off-camera about the fire. One nearly got emotional when reporters showed him videos of the flames, and he learned it was his boat that was scorched.

A woman also told NBC6 that she owned two of the three boats, and doesn't think the fire was random. She thinks they were being targeted, but could not say by who.

Jose Rojas, who lives and works on the river, said he woke up to an explosion around 3:30 a.m.

"Crazy," he said, and then in Spanish, "I was scared."

Rojas said the biggest yacht was used as a party boat for charter excursions.

Amanda Cummings, who was staying at a hotel just south of the river, said she heard the explosion from the sixth floor.

"It's just a loud boom, and the whole entire hotel you could feel it shake, the whole vibration," she said.

Cynthia Walton, who was visiting from Dallas, watched as the boats were swallowed by the blaze.

"It was really scary, with all the things going on nowadays. I’m completely blown away. With being three and all, it was completely mind-blowing," she said. "No one was hurt, thank God."

Authorities brought the fire under control by 6:30 a.m.

Firefighters put down an oil boom, a "strong mesh-like sleeve [that] encases a highly absorbent material that soaks up oil and surface sheen," to contain the fuel released from the boat that sank.

"The fire is now under control, but units remain on the scene to contain fuel runoff from the vessel and minimize the environmental impact of firefighting in the water," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.