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Off-duty Conn. firefighter helps rescue boaters from vessel fire

A Clinton volunteer firefighter aboard his personal boat safely removed all occupants from a smoking 42-foot vessel south of Duck Island

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Clinton Volunteer Fire Department/Faceook

By Josh LaBella
Journal Inquirer

CLINTON, Conn. — Crews responded to a boat fire in Long Island Sound on Sunday afternoon, local fire officials say.

In a Facebook post at about 3:30 p.m., the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department said crews were operating on the scene of a boat fire south of Duck Island. They said police from Clinton, Old Saybrook and Westbrook as well as firefighters from Old Saybrook and Westbrook also responded.

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Arriving crews found a 42-foot vessel with light smoke showing, the department said. All occupants already had been safely removed from the boat by a Clinton volunteer firefighter who happened to be in the area aboard his personal vessel, the department said.

Firefighters and marine units remained on scene escorting the vessel to an appropriate port, the department said.

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