Fire at Duffy’s lot destroys $43,000...

Fire at Duffy’s lot destroys $43,000 boat

An electric Duffy exploded into flames early Thursday in the

Newport Beach lot where the boats are sold, fire officials said.

Newport Beach firefighters responded to reports of a column of

smoke billowing into the sky at 6:21 a.m. Thursday from Duffy’s

Boats, 2001 W. Coast Highway.

While driving to the fire scene, rescue crews noticed the cylinder

of smoke, known as a “header,” floating higher into the morning sky.

The fire was extinguished fairly quickly, once firefighters

arrived at the boat lot. It lasted for about 20 minutes, Fire

Department spokeswoman Donna Boston said.

The new 21-foot boat that caught fire was gutted and will be

declared a total loss. It was valued at $43,000, Boston said.

About $3,000 in damage was caused to an adjacent boat because of

its exposure to the flames and heat of the fire, she said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known and is still under

investigation.

--Paul Clinton