Mastic Beach, NY - On Friday evening, September 18th, the Mastic Beach, Mastic and Center Moriches Fire Departments, along with the Mastic Beach Volunteer Ambulance Company were toned out for a boat fire at the Whittier Marina on Riviera Drive.

The first Mastic Beach unit on the scene was Chief Jeff McGowan. He advised fire-com that he had a fully involved boat in the water. The first engine on the scene was 5-13-8. They were given orders by Chief McGowan to stretch two hand lines and went to work; 5-13-2 and 5-13-4 arrived shortly after and brought their manpower to the scene to help.

Chief McGowan also found that he had a burn victim with serious burns to his face and back in the water being helped by civilians until EMS arrived. Due to the burn injuries the victim was brought by ambulance to St. Jude Church where he was then airlifted by a police helicopter and transported to the burn center at the Stony Brook University Medical Center.

The Suffolk County Police Arson Squad was called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.