According to Stamford Fire Department officials, in preparation for getting underway the Sea Ray’s Captain had just turned on his engine room blower, which should have expelled residual gasoline vapors in the compartment, when the vessel exploded in flames. The exact cause of the ignition of the bilge vapors is unknown but Fire Department officials commented that a spark from the starter, distributor, sparkplug, or a backfire through the carburetor could have ignited the fumes in the Sea Ray’s engine compartment.
VESSEL AFIRE