Home

Boat catches fire in Geographe Bay off Busselton coast

Charlotte EltonThe West Australian
VideoA boat has caught fire in Busselton, with smoke seen billowing into the sky from the shore.

Fire has engulfed a boat off the coast of Busselton this morning after an onboard “explosion.”

The fire department were called to Geographe Bay to attend the fire at 9:57am. Two people were onboard the boat when the fire started, but both made it safely to shore.

On the incident report, the firefighters who attended wrote that they “extinguished what was left.”

Local Nigel Bryce was inside his house when he heard the explosion.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
The boat on fire off the Busselton coast.
Camera IconThe boat on fire off the Busselton coast. Credit: @byzbateson/Twitter/@byzbateson/Twitter

“There was just a massive bang, it went through the whole house. I went to look and I saw the boat going up in flames.”

“I think the person on board was underwater cleaning the hull, so that’s why he was ok. It seemed like some type of explosion.”

Mr Bryce also criticised the “appalling” response time of the Marine service.

Onlookers watch on from the shore as a boat is engulfed in flames in Busselton.
Camera IconOnlookers watch on from the shore as a boat is engulfed in flames in Busselton. Credit: unknown/supplied

“They took 40 minutes to arrive. The ambulance arrived faster, but the marine response team, who are three minutes away, took 40 minutes to arrive.”

Police have said that the circumstances are not suspicious.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails