FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. - One man is in stable condition this morning after a sailboat he was on caught fire overnight in Matanzas Pass.
According to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department, the boat was connected to another sailboat, which also caught fire. Both fires are now out.
Fire crews got the call just before 2 a.m. Friday morning.
More than 10 departments responded from the Coast Guard, Lee County Sheriff's Office, Cape Coral, Bonita, Estero and Collier County.
The first sailboat was fully engulfed when crews arrived and eventually sank in Matanzas Pass. The fire raged on the second boat for a few hours as firefighters had a tough time getting to the flames inside the boat.
Crews also worked to keep the boat from getting tangled in nearby mangroves, creating an even bigger problem.
The cause is unknown although fire officials tell us there were some explosions on the boats from the propane tanks.
The injured boater was taken to Lee Memorial where he is in stable condition.
