Swimmers Warned Of Fuel Spill After Disabled Boat Crashes Ashore In Maine

A disabled boat left adrift after its occupants were rescued Sunday crashed ashore in Maine early Monday, spilling a large amount of fuel, officials said.

Kennebunk Fire-Rescue said it received reports at around 2:37 a.m. Monday of residents awoken by a strong smell of gasoline near Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk. Responding crews tracked the source of the smell to a boat that crashed ashore on nearby Strawberry Island.

The fire department said the boat was involved in a “sinking incident” the day before, and its occupants had been rescued by a local charter captain. The boat was left adrift, however, and the fire department said it was not alerted to the original incident.

As sea conditions deteriorated overnight, the boat “smashed into Strawberry Island,” fire officials said. The overturned boat dumped it’s 60-gallon fuel tank.

Fire Crews worked with Maine Department of Environmental Protection personnel to carry out bags of fuel and mitigate the spill “as much as possible” before the tide came back in.

Sea Tow is expected to salvage the boat on Tuesday.

In the meantime, residents and visitors are warned to avoid swimming in the area of Strawberry Island and to keep dogs out of the water for “at least” two tide cycles, which will “dilute and dissipate” the remaining fuel.