Firefighters extinguish boat fire in northeast St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG — A Temple Terrace couple's boat was declared a total loss after it burst into flames Wednesday evening near a sea wall in St. Petersburg.

Firefighters were called to 1323 39th Ave. NE at about 4:45 p.m. to fight the fire

Olivier Lucas told authorities he and his wife were visiting a friend when the boat started having engine trouble.

"He said he was just pulling up to the dock," said Lt. Joel Granata of St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue. "When he got closer to the dock it backfired, caused a mini explosion."

The couple was able to escape the flames without injury but the boat was a total loss, Granata said.