Three killed in Fraserburgh fishing boat blaze

Published on 01/08/2008 09:20

AN INVESTIGATION is under way after three people died in a "severe" fire on a fishing boat moored in a harbour today.

Emergency services arrived the scene at Fraserburgh harbour, Aberdeenshire, at around 1.35am after the alarm was raised.

Grampian Fire and Rescue said 43 firefighters were involved in tackling the fire on the 90ft trawler The Vision 2 at the height of the blaze.

The fire search and rescue team used thermal imaging cameras to search the vessel and found three bodies.

The identity of those who died has not yet been established.

Incident commander David Rout, of Grampian Fire and Rescue, said the first three crews to arrive at the scene found a "severe" fire and three more appliances were called in to help.

He said: "The fire crews encountered an extremely demanding and hazardous situation in relation to the intense heat and smoke that was being generated by the fire.

"They used jets and thermal imaging cameras to assist in the search.

"Unfortunately the search and rescue team located three fatalities on board the vessel."

Mr Rout said the boat suffered severe fire damage and it is not thought anyone managed to escape from the vessel.

It remains secured to the quayside and afloat, berthed at Balaclava Quay, police said.

Police said it was too early to say whether or not the fire was suspicious.

They will carry out a joint investigation with Grampian Fire and Rescue into the cause of the fire.

Det Insp Martin Dunn said: "Inquiries are at an early stage and these will continue to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident."

Six appliances were involved in tackling the fire, including two from Fraserburgh, two from Peterhead, one from Macduff and one from Maud.

They were called to the harbour just after 1.30am and had the blaze under control by around 3.30am.

Firefighters used eight breathing apparatus and two thermal imaging cameras as they tackled the flames.

The Fraserburgh coastguard team and Fraserburgh lifeboat also went to the scene to assist.

The Scottish Ambulance Service said they sent an ambulance and paramedics to the scene, but did not treat anyone or take anyone to hospital.

They were called to the scene at 1.35am and were stood down at 5am.

Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan said: "Obviously my thoughts go out to the friends and family of those who have died.

"I am sure the police, the fire and rescue service and the appropriate authorities will look very closely at the circumstances surrounding this and I hope we have a speedy understanding of what caused this tragedy."

He added that a large number of fishing vessels, including foreign trawlers, used the harbour.

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said: "The fishing industry will be highly concerned.

"There will be heartfelt sympathy for the families of the people involved who have died.

"We will urgently want to find out what happened.

"Nothing can be done for these three people who died and the question now is how did this happen and how can we avoid this happening again."

It is thought the crew of the trawler may be foreign and had been staying aboard the vessel.

Fraserburgh councillor Mike Watt said he believed the crew of the Banff-registered vessel were foreign, possibly Filipinos.

He said: "The news has been filtering through Fraserburgh this morning. It is absolutely tragic.

"The community here is completely shocked. Everyone translates that it could have been their husband, or son, or brother."

Mr Watt, a former skipper, said it was becoming more common for fishing crews to stay on boats at weekends when trawlers docked in harbours.

The twin-rig Vision 2 is understood to have been built at a shipyard in Macduff around four years ago and fished for prawns in the North Sea.

It is thought to have changed owners recently.

Incident Commander David Rout, of Grampian Fire and Rescue, said the first three crews to arrive at the scene found a "severe" fire and three more appliances were called in to help.

He said: "The fire crews encountered an extremely demanding and hazardous situation in relation to the intense heat and smoke that was being generated by the fire.

"They used jets and thermal imaging cameras to assist in the search.

"Unfortunately the search and rescue team located three fatalities on board the vessel."

He said it is too early to say what may have caused the fire, but an investigation will take place.

The vessel is a 90 foot long fishing trawler.

It is not thought anyone managed to escape from the boat.

Mr Rout said the boat suffered severe fire damage.

The vessel is called The Vision 2, and is berthed at Balaclava Quay in Fraserburgh.

It remains secured to the quayside and afloat, police said.

Detective Inspector Martin Dunn said: "Inquiries are at an early stage and these will continue to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident."