RNLI Wells in multi-agency call to assist with burning vessel

The volunteer crew of four launched from the boathouse at 7.07pm and headed inland along the channel towards the casualty vessel which was blazing into the evening sky. The inshore lifeboat, Peter Wilcox, arrived on scene at 7.09pm and moored up on the west side of the harbour on the beach bank and away from the burning boat.

They joined the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, who were already on scene and who had ascertained that there was no longer any people on board the vessel. With further agencies arriving, including the Police and Coastguard, the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service took the lead.

The decision was made to put out the fire instead of leaving it to burn out. The tide was ebbing and the moored boat was now on sand. With the RNLI inshore lifeboat already on the water, there was no requirement to launch the Fire and Rescue Service boat. By using the lifeboat, the RNLI volunteer crew supported the Fire Service by transporting fire equipment and firefighters across the channel to the vicinity of the burning boat. The inshore lifeboat crew also assisted on foot to feed a hose from the fire pump across the channel to the blazing vessel, which the firefighters used to put out the flames with foam fed through it.

Once the Fire Service was satisfied that the fire was completely extinguished, Wells inshore lifeboat crew helped to bring the equipment back across the channel, which was now approaching low tide.

At 10.48pm the Wells RNLI crew were stood down. They walked the lifeboat back to the boathouse through the channel as there was insufficient water in the harbour to motor back.

The lifeboat was ashore at the boathouse by 12.20am, it was sanitised, rehoused and refuelled and back on service again at 12.50am.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Justine Sykes, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07710510516 or [email protected] or Clare Hopps, Regional Media Officer on 07824 518641 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Justine Sykes - Lifeboat Press Officer, Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.