Boat Fire Damages Multiple Vessels at Elm Hill Marina

Nashville Fire Department crews responded to Elm Hill Marina just before 7 a.m. this morning following reports of a boat fire.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a houseboat fully involved with heavy smoke and flames. The vessel was docked in its slip, and the fire had already extended to several nearby boats.

Crews immediately began fire suppression operations from the dock, stretching a handline the length of the pier and utilizing a tank-to-tank water supply due to the absence of fire hydrants within the marina.

Additional support arrived from Marine Operations, including Boat 22, Boat 35, and the Office of Emergency Management's Marine 1. These units attacked the fire from the water while firefighters continued suppression efforts from the dock.

To help protect the surrounding environment, a special request was made for more than 1,000 feet of containment boom to control fuel and runoff from the damaged vessels.

At least 13 boats sustained damage in the fire. The heaviest damage was concentrated at the end of the dock where the fire began, while vessels moored near the beginning of the dock remained unaffected. All occupants had evacuated prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. No injuries were reported.

The scene was turned over to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), which is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. Nashville Fire Department crews terminated command at approximately 10:45 a.m.