Boat fire sends up smoke from Channel Islands Harbor

A boat fire at Oxnard's Channel Islands Harbor Friday was visible from miles away as smoke rose over the Oxnard Plain.

The incident was reported shortly before 11 a.m., said Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath.

The exact type of vessel wasn't available as of midafternoon, but McGrath described it as a "nicer boat" and said it had been parked at the end of a dock.

Someone had tried to go inside and use an extinguisher when they noticed the blaze, but conditions were already too smoky and hot, McGrath said.

No injuries were reported.

Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife described the pleasure craft as a 70-foot vessel with about 400 gallons of diesel on board. No impact on wildlife was observed, the agency said in a tweet.

The owner of the boat was not present as of early afternoon, McGrath said. The boat regularly docks at the harbor.

When firefighters arrived and started adding water, conditions became too dangerous and too hot. The boat started listing, McGrath said. Crews then backed off and "let the fire do the work to expose itself."

By early afternoon they had started applying water again.

Oxnard Fire, Harbor Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard crews were helping, including looking out for potential environmental impacts.

The cause remained under investigation, McGrath said.

This story may be updated.