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Woman Rescued From Burning Boat In Harbor East

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Some amazing amateur video. If you were near the Inner Harbor Saturday afternoon, you likely saw the smoke. Two boats caught on fire and a woman was trapped by the flames.

Monique Griego has more on the rush to rescue that woman.

In the video, you can see just how intense the flames were and how dangerous it was for firefighters to go in and save the elderly woman.

Amateur video shot by a WJZ viewer shows flames and thick black smoke shooting into the air, as a fire engulfs two power boats docked at the Inner Harbor.

Firefighters were called to a slip near Aliceanna and President streets just before 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

"Units arrived on the scene and then came upon two boats that were heavily involved with fire and smoke," said Captain Roman Clark, Baltimore City Fire Department.

Soon after arriving, firefighters learned this was about much more than just two burning boats. They learned an elderly woman was trapped inside one of the vessels. Crews were able to attack the fire and contain it to the point where firefighters could cut through the boat and pull her out.

"Got down to the bottom of the hull and rescued a 68-year-old woman from the hull of the boat," said Clark.

The woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Despite the dangerous conditions they faced, no firefighters were hurt. They will now have to try and figure out what sparked this fire that nearly turned tragic.

"As far as the cause of the fire, it is under investigation at this time," Clark said.

While the woman suffered serious injuries, she is expected to be OK.

Damage to the power boats is estimated to be around $100,000.

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