DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach firefighters responded to a boat fire Wednesday afternoon on the east side of the Seabreeze Bridge.
Officials said a 20-foot Sunbird boat caught fire shortly after it was turned on. Ray Cornell, the boat's owner, and his girlfriend jumped from the boat.
"It was horrible. Black smoke everywhere. I had to throw my girlfriend out of the boat real fast and I jumped out and pushed the boat away so it wouldn't actually blow up right here," Cornell said.
Officials said residents of nearby apartments called 911 when they saw the boat engulfed in flames.
Firefighters said the cause of the fire is unknown.