Man escapes sailboat fire on Ashley River

CHARLESTON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - The Charleston Fire Department says a man escaped unharmed from a sailboat fire on the Ashley River Friday afternoon.

CFD officials said the 40-foot long sailboat was anchored near the City Mega Dock when the fire occurred.

According to emergency officials, the occupant awoke to smoke in the cabin, then escaped through a hatch hole.

The man was then able to launch a dinghy and travel to a friend's boat where he called 911.

The boat burned to the waterline and sank, said Charleston Fire Department spokesman Ryan Kunitzer.

CFD crews are working with the Coast Guard to remove the sailboat from the river.

Motorists and residents took pictures of the sailboat fire and said they could see the smoke from a distance.

The Mount Pleasant and North Charleston Fire Departments, Charleston County Rescue, St. Johns Fire Department, Charleston Police, the state's Department of Natural Resources and the Coast Guard assisted.

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