When fire erupted on a passenger vessel cruising Florida’s Pithlachascotee River earlier this year, all aboard had to jump from the burning vessel and wade – or crawl - ashore. One person died and 14 others were transported to area hospitals. The Island Lady was so badly damaged it was declared a total loss.
That January 14 incident near Port Richey, Florida, will be the subject of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) meeting next month, during which the agency will determine the probable cause of the fire.