Boating company faces disruption from fire wreckage

A boating holiday company on the Norfolk Broads said it is facing disruption over the coming days due to wreckage from a boat fire.

Fire crews were called to a boatyard on Pits Lane in Chedgrave, near Loddon, Norfolk, at 15:41 BST on Monday.

Pacific Cruisers, based at the boatyard, said the fire started on a privately owned boat and spread to two others.

Fiona Husband, from the company, said the wreckage was causing a blockage on the river and added: "It's going to affect us very much."

Pacific Cruisers said the fire spread quickly across three privately owned vessels.

"The boat which was originally on fire has been submerged by the fire service opposite our basin, blocking the River Chet. It will therefore be very difficult to operate our business until this wreckage is removed," it said.

Ms Husband, 59, who lives next door to the boatyard, added: "Our boats are going to have trouble getting in and out and turning around and unfortunately it's the narrowest part of the river they decided to sink the boat at."

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said seven crews were called to get the fire under control.

"No boats were deliberately sunk – in the process of fighting the fire, the damage to the boat resulted in it partially sinking," said a spokesperson.

"Crews had worked hard to secure the boat to prevent it drifting while still on fire and affecting anything else on the river."

A spokesperson for the Broads Authority said: "Pollution control booms have been placed around the vessels, along with lights.

"The authority will continue to monitor the area to minimise the risk of any resulting pollution and ensure that other river users can safely navigate past the scene slowly so as not to disturb the boom."

The authority said it was liaising with the owners of the damaged boats to get them removed from the water "as soon as practically possible".

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