Boat fire injures Dana Point man

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- Gary Parthen of Dana Point was listed in serious

condition at the UCI burn center on Sunday night after a fire broke out

on his 27-foot Erickson sailboat just before 7 p.m.

Parthen was filling an alcohol fuel tank for the small stove in the cabin

when the vapors were ignited by a propane barbecue just outside the

cabin, said Sgt. James Thomas of the Newport Beach Harbor Patrol.

“He received second-degree burns over 22% of his body -- many the

stomach, chest and face area,” Thomas said.

When the Harbor Patrol reached Parthen’s ship, which was moored in

Newport Harbor, the fire was out, but Parthen was going into shock,

Thomas said.