Boat blaze at sailing academy

3:18pm Monday 13th October 2008

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FIREFIGHTERS scaled a fence at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to tackle a blaze in a boat.

Officers from Portland were forced to climb the railings after the fire triggered security measures - locking down the gates and entrances.

An investigation is underway after the fire broke out in the cockpit of a yacht at the academy this morning. (Monday) Firefighters believe the blaze may have been started deliberately.

Staff at the academy were alerted to the small fire in the 36-foot steel yacht at around 6am.

The fire triggered a perimeter lock-down, meaning the two fire crews from Portland that arrived on the scene had to scale the fence to tackle the flames.

The crews quickly extinguished the fire, which left the cockpit of the yacht severely damaged and also caused damage to the deck and cabin area of the vessel.

Sailing academy chief executive Mark Stubbings said: "The Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, in conjunction with the police and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, are carrying out investigations into the fire and will release a further statement when we have finished these investigations.

"In addition, we will continue to review our security measures."