Boats go up in flames

Short suspected in marina blaze

      As a much-anticipated storm brewed outside on Monday, Joe DeVita sat at his desk with head in hands, still in shock over the fire that destroyed at least 12 boats at his Island Park marina Sunday afternoon.       
      DeVita, who was not working when the fire broke out, said a customer had saved his parents' lives and most of the Empire Point Marina after spotting a fire on one of the boats.
      Nick Katsanos had stopped by the marina to check on his boat, which was to be launched on Monday, when he heard an explosion. Thinking quickly, he drove his family down the block and ran back to get the owners out. I'm still stunned, Katsanos said. It was very traumatic.
      Although an official cause of the fire had not been revealed, DeVita, who runs the family-owned business with his parents, believes it was a short circuit in the wiring of one boat.
      DeVita said that with the boating season just around the corner, the boat's owner had hooked his battery up to a charger.
      Both the Island Park and Oceanside fire departments were called to the scene and the blaze was soon extinguished, but not before 12 boats ranging from 30 to 42 feet in length, were destroyed and many more damaged.
      I can't believe it, said Rene Spagnolo of West Hempstead, whose boat was destroyed and who was one of many boat owners who rushed to the marina Monday morning to assess the damage. I'm nauseous, he said.
      Martin Monteiro was so upset, he raced out from Jamaica, Queens, to check on his boat. Although a neighboring boat was damaged, Monteiro's was not. He breathed a sigh of relief but still felt for other owners. Losing your boat is like taking half your life away.
      For DeVita's family, the fire was a nightmare. Because of their love of the water, they opened the business in 1984. We're very upset about it, said DeVita, who called the fire a tragic accident. We pride ourselves on service. The last thing we want is something like this.
      Spring is one of the busiest times of year for the marina and now the DeVitas will have to get boats ready for the water while dealing with insurance companies and having the burned-out hulls towed away. DeVita expects to lose much revenue because of the fire but is hopeful that his company will pull through.